Exeter golf captains get in the swing for hospital charity

Golfers at the Exeter Golf and Country Club have teed off a year of fundraising for the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.

Men’s and ladies’ 2023-24 golf captains Geoff Fidler and Vicki Rogers have chosen the RD&E Charity as their charity of the year and hope to raise £20,000 to support the hospital’s oncology department.

The department treated Geoff for prostate cancer more than a decade ago, and again last year, when his cancer returned.

He said: “Throughout my time in radiotherapy, I met many other cancer patients who were also being treated by the marvellous team of radiologists, and like myself, had nothing but praise and admiration for the staff who cared for us.

“I really wanted to give something back by raising funds to help further improve the facilities within the oncology department, and together with the help of Vicki, we have set a target of £20,000.”

Geoff and Vicki plan to hold a series of events during their captaincy year, including ladies’ and men’s pro-am events and captaincy days.

They have already raised more than £1,000 and boosted their efforts further this week with the 15th Annual Ladies’ Charity Pro-am on Tuesday (May 16). More than 100 players graced the greens at the parkland golf course on Topsham Road, raising £2,752.25.

Vicki said: “We had a super day of golf and are delighted to have been able to raise so much money for the RD&E Charity, as well as awareness about how the charity makes such a difference to local people.

“Any donation no matter how small, will help our hospital provide better facilities over and above what’s possible with NHS funding.”

Debbie Allen, fundraiser at the RD&E Charity, said: “We are thrilled that Geoff and Vicki have decided to use their captaincy year to help their local hospitals go the extra mile for local patients and their families.

“Every pound raised will fund the things that make a big difference, and bring moments of joy, comfort and hope to those who need it most.”

To make a donation to Geoff and Vicki’s captaincy fundraising, visit https://rdecharity.enthuse.com/pf/geoff-fidler