Golfers raise more than £2,000 for 'vital service' charity based in Honiton

Golfers in Brixham are helping to support the NHS for free after raising more than £2,000 for the Devon Freewheelers, based in Honiton.

Iris Butler, Churston Golf Club ladies captain from 2020-2021, chose to back the 'vital service' because the charity and its volunteers went 'under the radar'.

The Churston Ladies members took part in a host of events and activities, raising £2,021 for the Devon Freewheelers.

Russell Roe, Devon Freewheelers deputy CEO, said funds raised by the golfers would fuel a Blood Bike for more than 28,000 miles.

Iris, who handed over the captaincy for 2021-2022 to Sue Petulengro, said: "I was delighted I was able to raise as much as Covid has stopped so much.

"The Devon Freewheelers has been my charity for many years.

"I wanted to choose a charity that provides a vital service that goes under the radar.

"I used to work at Torbay Hospital as director of HR and I knew that the Devon Freewheelers' service was valued."

The golfers raised funds for the Devon Blood Bikes with activities and raffles, selling homemade marmalade, facemasks, knitted hats and ear warmers.

And donations were collected during the lady captain charity day, where members took part in a driving competition to guess where a golf ball would land played from the first hole.

Russell Roe, based at the charity headquarters, on the Heathfield Industrial Estate, in Honiton, said: "I would like to thank every golf club member of the Churston Ladies for supporting the Devon Freewheelers and raising this incredible amount for the Blood Bikes charity.

"The funds raised by the members will go a long way to help in the work we do, supporting the NHS for free.

"Their generosity will help fuel the bikes, pay for replacement tyres and buy new equipment, such as specialist sample transportation bags.

"The volunteers would especially like to thank Iris Butler for her continued support over many years.

"We call the Devon Freewheelers volunteers our hidden heroes because - as Iris rightly pointed out - the duty riders do provide a vital service but mostly go under the radar, without any expectation of praise or thanks."