Mark Group

Mark Group raises over £10,000 for local air ambulance service

Tuesday 25 May 2010

Fundraising efforts at the Mark Group Birstall Golf Tournament took flight earlier this month when over £10,000 was raised for the Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance (DLRAA).

Nearly 170 amateur and professional golfers took part in the day-long tournament at Birstall Golf Club in Leicestershire on Friday 14th May, to raise funds for the East Midlands-based emergency service. Through registration fees and donations from participants, a cheque for £10,655 was presented to Ivan Ball by Kathleen Cottingham from energy-saving specialist and event sponsor, Mark Group

The event, which is starting to become an annual date on the Midlands PGA calendar, was organised with the support of PGA Regional Secretary, Jon Sewell. The tournament was organised by Birstall Pro, David Clark and Birstall House Chairman, Sandra Clarke, whilst Mark Group representatives coordinated fundraising for DLRAA.

Kathleen said: “The Pro Am format is becoming increasingly popular, providing a fantastic way for the average golfer to see for themselves how professionals perform and at the same time, raise funds for a worthy cause. We would like to thank everyone who took part and made the day possible, enabling us to generate such a large sum of money for the Air Ambulance Service.”

In addition to the charitable donation, personal achievements from the day were recognised, including Shirland Golf Club’s Ian Walley winning the individual professional award and the team led by David Clark, winning the overall event.

Kathleen continued: “I have supported golf for many years, both through Mark Group and on a personal level. Golf is a sport which is accessible to anyone, all ages, all walks of life and this Pro Am tournament demonstrates the opportunities for amateurs to improve their skills, whilst enjoying the game with friends and colleagues.”

The donation made to DLRAA will go towards daily running costs to enable the service to continue operating across an area spanning 2,100 square miles, reaching over 1.4 million people.

For further information on the work of the DLRAA, visit their website

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