
Our specialist palliative care team is thanking former Seaton Carew Golf Club captain Ian Phillips and his team for a charity golf day which has seen more than £4,000 donated to our charity.
Mr Phillips, approaching his 80th birthday, has held an annual golf day in aid of the Trust’s Specialist Palliative Care Team for the last 28 years.
It is estimated that the fun day has raised somewhere between £75,000 and 80,000 during that time and this year’s total topped a fantastic £4,044.
Mr Phillips, a member at Seaton for 40 years where he was captain in 2004, and his golf day committee have been the driving force since day one, having decided to make it a regular event.
Celebrating the event’s 30th anniversary
He said: “This is the 30th anniversary if you include the first two years’ we raised money for Palliative and End of life care at Castle Eden after we had been asked if we could help a young chap by his mum. We raised £600 back then.
“The committee here at Seaton left me to organise it, so I set up the three-man team format and we make it as social as we possibly can.
“We have people who only play once a year who take part. It’s unbelievable. The kindness involved is so special.
“We have a good reputation throughout the North-East, people all come from across the region and love the charity day.
“This year we managed to raise £4044. Last year we couldn’t hold it because of Covid. The previous year was about £2,600. It’s brilliant. I’m proud of everyone involved.”
Participants tend to bring prizes. Some of those will go into a raffle and the rest will be used as prizes for the golf.
The money raised donated to the specialist palliative care service.
Supporting our palliative care patients
The specialist palliative care team specialises in helping patients, their relatives and carers by providing expert advice, guidance and support to those who have progressive and life limiting illness for both cancer and non-cancer conditions.
The efforts of those at Seaton Carew and Mr Phillips have already helped others this year.
Helen Dicken is a clinical nurse specialist with the team. She said: “Recently our team was able to get a wheelchair for a dad who wanted to take his young children to the park one last time before he passed away.
“Another gentleman wanted to pass away in the house but didn’t have any funds or family. So the funds allowed us to buy a safe box so the carers could let themselves in. These are examples of how the efforts of Mr Phillips and the team can make a difference. We are so grateful.”
Hartlepool-born Richard Scott is the Trust’s business lead. He said: “I would like to thank Ian on behalf of the Trust for the work he has done over the years. The efforts are making a difference to nurses and patients on the front line.
“Next year we are going to put a team in and I am looking forward to playing.”