Trick shot specialist Jeremy Dale. Picture: Tony Gay.

Muswell Hill golf day raises thousands for cancer charities

by Tim Lamden Sunday, July 15, 2012
7:00 AM

More than 140 golfers helped to raise £14,000 during a charity golf day in memory of a young cancer victim held in Muswell Hill.

The fifth annual Swing for Sammy event took place at Muswell Hill Golf Club, in Rhodes Avenue, on June 29.

It was started by club member Ben Trow, 30, in memory of his 26-year-old wife Samantha who died of bowel cancer shortly after their marriage in February 2008.

Over 140 fundraisers, split into teams of four, competed at this year’s tournament and it was a team of Muswell Hill club members that triumphed as overall winners.

The team, comprised of Steve Ferris, Jem Butcher, Laurence Knott and Philip Matthews, finished with a score of 88 points.

Throughout the day, international trick-shot specialist Jeremy Dale was the star attraction, hitting balls left-handed off a 3ft high tee onto the tenth green and concluding the day with a special trick-shot show.

Since the inaugural competition in 2008, Swing for Sammy has raised £60,000 which has been split between Cancer Research UK, North London Hospice, the Royal Marsden, in Chelsea, St Mark’s Hospital, in Harrow, and Macmillan Cancer Support.

Mr Trow said: “This is a fantastic result, yet again, for a small suburban golf club.

“We raised more than £60,000 from the first four years of Swing for Sammy and to keep up with that rate during a time of recession for so many retail businesses is absolutely exceptional.

“This proves that where the battle against cancer is concerned, we really are all in it together.”