Golfers raise thousands for world famous hospital

Staged for the sixth year running by the Marketmen at Hintlesham Hall Golf Club, the event saw ninety golfers in teams of four raise £2,775 for the Papworth Hospital Trust before enjoying light entertainment and dinner.

Officials at Bloomfields say they are delighted with the total raised for the heart and lung hospital in Cambridgeshire which carried out the first successful heart transplant in the UK and one of the world's first beating-heart transplants.

According to club secretary Mark Easlea who organises the event, golfers backing the Ryman North champions have now raised a grand total of more than £12,500 for local charities and good causes.

Easlea, pictured left alongside Marketmen president and chairman Keith Nunn at the cheque presentation to the charity's Terry Saunders before Saturday's pre-season friendly with Chelmsford City, said: “This is a great privilege for me to make this award as this charity does some really important work for the local community. We are supporting 'The Papworth Hospital Charity' as several of our supporters who watch the team every week have been treated at the hospital.

"I am sure you may have had family members, friends, or know of someone who has been treated at the hospital and we wanted to show our support for the fabulous job everyone does there.”

The club thanked Easlea and everyone else connected with their golf days over the last six years for making them such a success.

A spokesman said: "Although he is not a golfer himself, Mark works very hard to ensure a successful day is had by all. The football club is grateful for the superb efforts of its secretary and the willingness of its sponsors and friends to support such deserving causes."

* Marketman manager Mark Morsley is currently preparing his side for one of the top flight games of the day on Saturday when the new season kicks-off.

By a quirk of the fixtures computer, his side are taking on last season's Ryman South champions Burgess Hill Town at Bloomfields.

Needham Market say they are planning to celebrate the 'clash of the champions' with several items of merchandise on sale for fans including scarves, badges, beer glasses and even a local beer.

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