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South 22 Woodham Focus
South Woodham Focus
lOCAl GOlFER SElFlESS SARAH HONOURED BY PGA
“The cancer Wendy has is extremely rare,” explained Bennett, a
PGA Fellow Professional. “The plan is to start a charity for people
who have this rare form of cancer.
“There are support groups for other dreadful forms of cancer
but Wendy has had nobody to speak to except me. For me, that’s
massively important.
“We also want to set up in the UK the first pod, if you want to
call it that, for thymic carcinoma.
Sarah was presented with her award by PGA captain John Heggarty at the
Association’s annual cocktail party on the eve of the 147th Open Championship
at Carnoustie.
Sarah Bennett, a golf pro from Essex who is as well known for
the hours she devotes to helping the less fortunate as she is for
her excellence as a coach, has received a prestigious PGA award.
Sarah is the head professional at Three Rivers Golf & Country
Club, has won the Association’s Toby Sunderland Award, an
accolade given annually to celebrate the many wide-ranging
charitable achievements by PGA pros across Great Britain and
Ireland.
Sarah’s work for charity over the years has included the Golf Fore
Recovery initiative for wounded and sick services personnel and
Canine Partners.
Her latest involvement, however, is not only her most
challenging but also very close to home.
It is the result of her friend and Under 18 boys and girls England
Golf East regional manager, Wendy Lodder, contracting an
extremely rare form of cancer.
The 51-year-old was diagnosed with thymic carcinoma in 2016
and has subsequently undergone two major thorasic surgeries
as well as chemotherapy and immunotherapy in a bid to combat
the disease.
“And I’m pleased to say that’s well on its way. Unfortunately
there are only two specialists in the UK who have any idea about
this chest cancer but King’s College, London, will hopefully be
joining forces with Guy’s Cancer Centre, London, to increase their
expertise.”
In terms of hitting their financial target, the pair are almost
halfway there and hoping a fundraising golf day at Three Rivers
next week will go a long way towards making up the difference.
The £1,200 that goes with the Toby Sunderland Award, however,
is an unexpected bonus.
“I’m humbled and surprised to receive the award,” Sarah added.
“But I’m delighted for the charity - hopefully it will help raise
awareness of the disease, which is what Wendy wants. It’s the
only way people will understand what this type of cancer is.”
There were seven candidates in the running - one from each PGA
region -but Bennett was the unanimous choice. “There were
seven very worthy entries,” said Tristan Crew, the PGA’s executive
director - Member services.
“But Sarah’s achievement is all about true charity. It’s about
giving her personal time to support individuals who are more
needy than herself.
“I first became aware of her charity work and what she was
doing in my last career, which was in the British army.
“In 2009 she was working with Colchester Garrison with injured
service personnel, teaching them golf and using it as a
rehabilitation tool.
“Meanwhile, in a parallel world, I was setting up the Battleback
golf programme but Sarah did everythng herself without any
support really from the military apart from goodwill.
Wendy’s plight has prompted the two women to set about
raising £20,000 to fund research into the disease and form a
charity to support people who contract it.
“She did one-to-one and group coaching, raised funds for a
Huxley artificial green to be installed at Colchester Garrison. She
ran a golf challenge between all the army recovery centres and
a fundraising day for Canine Partners.
“Now she has embarked on a cause to help her friend and those
who suffer from this rare form of cancer and I’m delighted she
has been chosen to receive the Toby Sunderland Award.”
*If anyone wishes to contribute to the fund, please follow this
link:
https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiserdisplay/showROFundraiserPage?userUrl=wendylodder&pageU
rl=2
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