Golf club captain raises thousands to keep suicide prevention hotline

THE men’s captain at Badgemore Park Golf Club has raised more than £13,000 for a suicide prevention charity.

Mark Stevens donated £13,771.77 to Papyrus, a nationwide charity which provides 24/7 support for children and people under the age of 35 struggling with suicidal thoughts.

He presented a cheque to Papyrus volunteer Nicola Astles-Jones.

Ms Astles-Jones said: “I am absolutely flabbergasted by the amount raised. I don’t think what I say could ever thank all of you enough for what you’ve done.

“You have done so much over the last 12 months, and your money makes so much difference to young people in this country.”

Ms Astles-Jones added that Papyrus is unique in that it offers a intervention service and can implement safety plans for young people. It also provides bereavement support for those who have lost a loved one to suicide.

Ms Astles-Jones said the donation will help to fund the charity’s suicide prevention hotline, HOPELINE, which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but has struggled with funding in recent years.

More than 30 members and ex-captains attended the annual meeting at the main clubhouse on Saturday night.

Mr Stevens, who has been a member of the club for 27 years, signed off his year as men’s captain. He said he chose the Papyrus charity after it supported a friend who had lost his son to suicide, aged 21.

He said: “If you give £10,000 to a big charity it’s a little amount to them but, to these people, it’s a huge amount and they helped my friend and his family a lot so that’s why I chose them. I set myself a target of £10,000, that was my minimum that I wanted to get to. When we reached that in September, which is the end of the main season, I was thinking, ‘how much more can I push?’

“When we hit £13,000 it was unbelievable. We had a great year and I had loads of support from some great people.

“The weather mostly was fantastic, so it was a great year for golf and helped getting people out on the course and donating to play.”

The traditional “putt-out”, which is the final duty of the club captains, was due to take place on Sunday morning but was postponed due to the weather. It will now take place on January 25.

Mr Stevens said: “If I get the putt in, I get another £500 donated by the club. Hopefully I will hold that put and then I shall break the £14,000 barrier.”