With the launch of the new Golfathon challenge fundraising campaign for Hospiscare, we would like to share a story from one of our supporters – Darren Everett. Darren is the Director of Golf and Head PGA Professional at Exeter Golf and Country Club.
Sadly, I lost my dad back in March 2021 as he bravely lost his battle with cancer. It was hard to come to terms with and I miss seeing him or talking to him so much. I decided to try and take on a big challenge in memory of my dad and to also raise money for both Marie Curie and the Lympstone & Exmouth Hospice. Both of these were absolutely amazing in making sure dad was comfortable at home as he saw out his time with us, and we will be forever grateful for the care and compassion they showed. So now to the challenge!
My dad used to say to me, “You would play golf 24 hours a day if you could!”, so that is exactly what I set out to do! Starting at 5.30pm on Thursday 22nd July I teed off from the first tee to play 6 rounds of golf with minimal break between rounds. The idea was then to putt out on the 18th green at 5.30pm on Friday 23rd July. Overnight I used the special night golf equipment which included special night golf balls that light up, and glow sticks you can attach to the flags etc. It was always going to be a huge physical and mentally demanding challenge but in the reality of what my dad had to go through it would be a walk in the park, or so I hoped!
I knew it was going to be tough and I can confirm it was! It was also brilliant though and I am so glad I decided to do it and have no regrets, but also no real desire to do it again!………or maybe I will! There are so many people to thank and I am not sure where to start. To all the members and staff at Exeter Golf and Country Club for their amazing support and donations, to all the players who joined me throughout my 24 hours, you are legends every single one of you and there is no way I would have got through this without you all. To Iain from Harbour Chiropractic who gave up his time to both play with me and more importantly advise and support me physically to help get me through, especially when I hit the wall in my 4th & 5th rounds, top man and thank you. To my team Dave, Chris and Ryan who have been a constant support and bought me to the finish in the last round. And finally to my family who like me have gone through a tough time this year. It was amazing to have them there to see me home on the 18th and of course we all know that dad was with me every step of the way. If a script could have been written on how to finish this challenge off then somehow gathering the energy to hit the 18th green in two in front of a gallery of family and friends would have been it for sure, I am so chuffed that I carried out the script and it was a very fitting way of bringing the 24 hours to a close. If there was ever a special moment where I knew dad was with me, that was it. So there it is after 24 hours, 6 rounds of golf, some 75,000 steps, 39 miles and thanks to all your very kind donations, we have raised around £6500 for Marie Curie UK & Hospice UK.
So there it was, my biggest golf challenge. It was fun, hard and emotional, but it was for my dad, and there was no way I was letting him down!
If you are interested in taking on the Golfathon challenge for Hospiscare. You can find out more and register here.
