RESIDENT EXCLUSIVE by MIKE ALMOND [email protected]identgroup.com
A golf day and gala dinner raised in excess of £40,000 for blinded British policeman David Rathband’s Blue Lamp Foundation charity.
The event on July 1 saw teams of four competing at Ramside Hall, in Durham in the UK, for a top prize worth thousands of Euros donated by generous Algarve businesses.
 The winning team of golfers Graham Flaxen, Tony Lister, Paul Mackens and James Hibbert, who will be jetting off to the Algarve for a luxury golf break, pictured with PC David Rathband, third from left, and Anna Foster from Metro Radio. Photo: JUDITH GRAHAM, VILLAGE PHOTOGRAPHY |
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Among the players was PC Rathband, who was able to call upon the services of a celebrity caddy in the form of TV’s Dragon’s Den star Duncan Bannatyne.
The Scottish tycoon told his followers on Twitter he was having “a laugh a minute” as he teamed up with PC Rathband and three other blind golfers.
A spokesman for the Blue Lamp Foundation told the Algarve Resident: “The golfers that took part were all saying what a fantastic prize list there was, including the top prize for the winning team.”
 The winners will be staying at Vale do Lobo. Photos: SUPPLIED. |
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He said the gala dinner in the evening, where the trophy and prize was presented, was attended by more than 600 guests, who were entertained by Algarve regulars Tim Healy and Denise Welch.
The couple also hosted the evening’s charity auction, which raised more than £14,000.
“All in all, for our first golf event and gala dinner, we couldn’t have wished for a better outcome and the monies raised made all the hard work worthwhile,” added the spokesman.
 Chef Johnnie Pratt will be cooking for the group. |
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The top prize in the golf event was put together by the Algarve Resident with the assistance of Kate Ayres-Rouse of Yellow Kite.
The winning team will be jetting to the Algarve for a golfing extravaganza, staying for three nights in a luxury apartment at Vale do Lobo, including one round of golf on the Royal or Ocean golf course.
The four winners will also be playing a round at one of the five Pestana courses in the Algarve and, to round off a wonderful experience, they will be dining one evening at the number one restaurant in Almancil on Trip Advisor, Bistro des Z’Artes, run by chef/patron Jonnie Pratt.
 The Vale da Pinta clubhouse in Carvoeiro was raided by criminals last weekend. Photo: SUPPLIED. |
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PC Rathband, a 43-year old father of two, was blinded after being shot in the face on July 4,2010 by fugitive gunman Raoul Moat.
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