Bernard and Kirsty with the cheque
Glenddoch Golf Course
BERNARD WOOD
(in aid of Kirsty Appeal)
Friday, 24th March, 2006
Choosing Scotland as it is the home of golf, Bernard Wood decided to play all the country’s 18-hole courses, beginning in Powfoot, Dumfrieshire, and taking in famous courses like St Andrews and Turnberry.
He spent twelve months golfing throughout Scotland, spending some of the nights he was away in his motor-home and staying in bed and breakfasts for the rest. Sometimes he was playing two full courses in a single day, he finally returned home last November. His Scottish Golf Marathon was to raise funds for the Kirsty Appeal. The Kirsty Appeal is a campaign to raise £5 million to secure the future of the Francis House Children's Hospice.
Francis House offers the families of very sick children a respite from their role as carers and gives the children a loving home from home. Each year, Francis House cares for over 150 children and their families. To provide all this costs an enormous amount and the charity is funded almost entirely by voluntary donations. There is no charge to families for this service.
They constantly seek funding from the various Health Authorities in whose areas the children live. Francis House currently receives less than 4% Government funding, so all the running and caring costs are by voluntary donation only. £5 million is needed to ensure the long-term viability of the hospice and the consequences of that figure not being raised are not worth thinking about.
The end of the twelve months period was marked with a Sportsman’s Dinner at the Rossendale Golf Club. Bellagio Time was pleased to donate a 2.1ct lady’s diamond timepiece towards the auction held during the evening which raised a further £14,000. In total, Bernard raised a staggering £118,000.