June 28th 2010

Local Golfers Tee Off  for MindWise and Volunteer Now

The Hilton Golf Club kindly hosted the MindWise annual golf competition on Wednesday 16th June 2010. Raymond Gray, a local taxi driver, organises the event on behalf of MindWise and one other local charity every year. This year the other nominated charity was Volunteer Now, Newtownabbey Be-Friending Scheme.
A perfect summer’s day saw the competition off to a great start. The golf competition continues to grow in size and support year on year with the 2010 prizes being sponsored for the second year by the local family business McCombe Bros, Antrim. The main prize being the Richard McCombe Memorial Cup in memory of James father. Presenting the winning cup to the captain of the Hilton Golf Club James congratulated the victors and thanked everyone who took part in the event for their support. Denis Stronge, Carrickfergus Golf Club won the best gross prize of the day.
The day raised in total £2,900 with £1750 being donated to MindWise’s Annsgate Service and £1150 being presented to the Volunteer Now Centre Manager, George Gillespie.
Speaking as the cheques were presented, Annsgate Team Leader Karen Crothers was keen to thank the organisers not just for the donation but for the help they had given to raise awareness of mental illness. She said, “Mental illness can affect anyone, at any one time 1 in 4 people will be affected by mental illness, and like a physical illness it can strike anyone at anytime. MindWise is there not only to support those who develop an illness but also to educate and inform the public as to how they can protect their own mental health. As a newly formed local charity, this year more than ever MindWise needs the generous support of local people to be able to continue offering these services”.
 
(left to right) Karen Crothers, Team leader MindWise, Raymond Gray, George Gillespie, Volunteer Now and Eleanor Girvan, Volunteer Now, pictured at the recent charity golf day held at the Hilton Golf Club