Charity foundation launches first celebrity golf tournament

A celebrity golf tournament, organised by a Leeds entrepreneur, is to be staged at The Mere Golf Resort in Cheshire to raise funds for critically ill children.

The Matt Haycox Foundation is launching its first celebrity golf tournament, in partnership with the Mere Golf Resort and Spa for the inaugural Celebrity Golf Challenge.

Founded by entrepreneur, funding guru and investor Matt Haycox, The Matt Haycox Foundation is a children’s charity which aims to provide financial support to the lives of seriously and terminally ill children and their families throughout Yorkshire.

Whether it be life threatening illnesses, operations to help children walk again, funding for new experimental life changing treatments, the Matt Haycox foundation wants to make the difference.

The organisation is hoping the golf event will become an annual event and, if entry is a measure, it looks like it is well on its way to being a huge success. Some 75% of the team entries have already been sold.

Matt Haycox said: “Our celebrity golf tournament features 18 Holes of one of the North’s best golf courses, and will include celebrity golf teams and guests, plus a full day and night of quality food, drink and entertainment.

“We’ve been talking to lots of organisations and individuals about taking part and I can guarantee that the event is set to be attended by an array of sporting and TV celebrities. It’ll be great fun for everyone taking part – and most importantly, raise lots of money for the children we support.”

The Matt Haycox Foundation was formed in 2017 after Matt funded a life changing operation for a young cerebral palsy victim from Hartlepool.

The year before, Matt Haycox, was enjoying a game of football at Hartlepool FC when he found himself sitting next to a family wearing t-shirts saying “Help Alfie Walk”, so he went over to find out what it was all about.

He got chatting to Ann-Marie Stalley who told him that she had set up a crowdfunding campaign on Justgiving.com for her nine-year-old son who needed life-changing surgery. Her goal was to raise a total of £50,000 to help Alfie, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at 16 months old, to walk unaided for the first time.

Matt knew straight away that he wanted to do everything he could to help Alfie reach his target, so he decided to match any funds raised on Alfie’s JustGiving page by Christmas. With Matt’s help Alfie smashed his fundraising goal and had his life-changing operation less than 6 months after Matt and Ann-Marie’s initial meeting.

Matt had never intended on setting up a foundation, it wasn’t something he planned, helping Alfie had come totally out of the blue. But having found the experience “one of the most, exciting, fulfilling, humbling and proudest moments” of his life, he decided to make a greater, long term commitment to helping kids in need.

The event is being held at The Mere on 27th September and will run from 12 noon till late.

Sponsorship Opportunities are available from £1000 and entry fee for four Ball Teams starts from £500.

To book your team in as part of the event call 03330 069141 / 07958 906289 or visit www.matthaycoxfoundation.org for more entry details. Alternatively contact Maria Murphy or Adam Moss at Roland Dransfield PR on 0161 236 1122 or via maria.murphy@rdpr.co.uk or adam.moss@rdpr.co.uk.

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