Every dark cloud has a silver lining – Golfers help raise Thousands for Charity

A leading North East car retailer defied the weather to raise more than £27,500 for local charities at its annual golf day on Monday 24^th September. With over a month’s worth of rainfall falling on Monday 24^th and Tuesday 25^th September, the Pulman annual charity golf day could have been a wash out before it even started. 

Organisers from Pulman, which runs SEAT, Skoda and Volkswagen retailers in Durham and Sunderland, had feared the event would be a washout as gale force winds and torrential rain lashed Chester-le-Street Golf Club. 

 

But scores of hardy golfers from across the UK braved the course to make the event a huge success.

 

And they dug deep at an auction following the day’s play to raise thousands for the regional branch of the NSPCC and the Freeman Hospital. 

Jonathan Lupton - Pro Golfer

Pulman Group Marketing Manager, Natalie Wilson, said: “At the start of the day we seriously considered calling the event off as the weather was so bad and the greenkeepers felt the course was unplayable. But we were determined not to let the biggest event on our calendar be ruined by the weather so we pressed ahead and we couldn’t believe it when all the golfers we were expecting turned up and decided to play.

“After enduring such horrendous weather everyone was in great spirits when they got back to the clubhouse and that really showed when it came time for the auction. They were all so generous with their bidding and helped us raise more money for our chosen charities than ever before.”

 

The golf day itself was stopped early, with only 9 holes being played, the heroic golfers returned to the club house to enjoy hot food and drink and laughs from the local comedian.

Ben Margetts, Community Fundraiser for the NSPCC attended the Pulman charity golf day and commented, “I must admit, I was worried on Monday morning with the torrential rain which was forecasted for the rest of the day. But I was truly amazed by everyone, Pulman for their fantastic persistence and organising the day, the golfers who above all carried on in the heavy rain and to Chester-le-Street golf club who made sure that we could play at least a little golf.

Paul Collingwood

 Last year, Pulman raised a huge £22,000, which over the last year has helped us add another member to our North East ChildLine Schools Service team. This additional member of staff has helped to recruit and train volunteers in the area and enabled us to deliver the service to thousands of children in the region. The ChildLine Schools Service sensitively educates children on the different forms of abuse, how to protect themselves and where they can go for support. We hope that this service will help to protect children from abuse and identify children in need of support sooner. It’s for this reason that days like the one Pulman have organised are so vitally important and can make a life changing impact.” 

Natalie Wilson continued, “we just want to say a huge thank you to all our sponsors including Castrol and Newcastle United, thank you to Jonathan Lupton, the pro golfer from Close House, to Chester-le-Street golf club for baring with us and to all the golfers who made the day possible and helped raised a fantastic and a new record £27,500, in which 100% will go to the NSPCC and NHS Freeman hospital.”

 

To view photos from the day please go to: http://www.pulmanvolkswagen.co.uk/golfday2012/history-2012.php