Prostate Cancer UK is launching a Mixed Pairs campaign for 2025 highlighting the role that women play in supporting their husbands, brothers, sons and friends who are impacted by the most common cancer in men.
This new event format will further boost Prostate Cancer UK’s presence in the golf community and encourage golf club members and societies to come together raising awareness of prostate cancer risk and to help fund research to find better tests and treatments to save men’s lives.
One in eight men in the UK are diagnosed with prostate cancer and for each man who is affected, there is often a network of women friends and family who are also indirectly impacted. More and more women golfers are coming forward wanting to support Prostate Cancer UK, so this new initiative is designed to support golf clubs wanting to put on different types of events for their members and to encourage more women golfers to come forward and support the men in their lives.
“When someone in the golf club is diagnosed with prostate cancer not only does it have a huge impact on the man diagnosed with the disease, it has a significant effect on their family, friends and golfing partners,” commented Seren Evans, Head of Community and Events Fundraising at Prostate Cancer UK.
“Golfers want to be proactive and feel like they are doing something positive to show their support, which is where this new Mixed Pair fundraising event is perfect. We love this format as it allows everyone at the club to get involved and it is also a fantastic way to celebrate men affected by prostate cancer and the women who have them supported them along the way.”
A number of female supporters, who have already raised significant amounts, will be celebrated at the Mixed Tournament launch event taking place at Little Aston in Birmingham on July 24 this year. Participants include David and Sandra Hadley-Smith.
“It was a huge shock when I was diagnosed with prostate cancer,” says David a member at Moor Hall Golf Club in Sutton Coldfield. “I panicked and did the worst thing you can do and go on google. But it was my wife Sandra, my family and friends, who got me through and helped me deal with the diagnosis. Her support has been unwavering, and we both decided to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK via our club. We’re delighted there’s a new format for a golfing event to raise money; Sandra and I regularly play in Mixed Pairs events so we’re very keen to support this new initiative.”
The new format will be rolled out to golf clubs across the country later this year forming a new part of an already significant golf programme for Prostate Cancer UK. In the last ten years £6 million has been raised through the charity’s tailored support for golf club captains, golfers wishing to hold golf days and more recently through The Big Golf Race, the charity’s flagship golf fundraiser that asks golfers to play 36, 72 or 100+ holes in day.
Prostate Cancer UK will work with the PGA, the UK Golf Federation, the British Golf Industry Association and HowDidiDo to encourage golfers to organise and take part in this new Mixed Pairs format to help save men’s lives.
Golfers wishing to set up their own Mixed Pairs event to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK in 2025 can expect expert support from the charity’s golfing team including a golf fundraising pack including golf balls, tees, health information and branded merchandise as well as tailored support and advice on the best practise ways to set up and organise the events.
For more details visit prostatecanceruk.org/golf or email golf@prostatecanceruk.org