Beatson Cancer Charity, which is committed to raising significant funds to enhance the experience, treatment, outcomes and wellbeing of current and former cancer patients and their families across Scotland and beyond, benefited to the tune of £11,050 as the Official Charity of the Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open at Dundonald Links.
Part of that figure came from a ‘Birdie Pledge’ initiative, backed by title sponsor Aberdeen Asset Management whereby every birdie and eagle made by the professionals amounted to £5 and £10 being contributed to the fundraising tally – totaling £3,375, with 641 birdies and 7 eagles being made across the three tournament days. An additional 10 birdies being made by amateurs on the par 3 sixth hole contributed a further £100.
The Birdie Pledge contribution combined with the sale of daily prize draw raffle tickets and donations for official programmes, contributed more than £2,527 to the total amount, with the remainder being raised through on-site donations as well as a kind gesture from the Taste of Arran and Arran Dairies Managing Director, Alastair Dobson. Alastair, who played in the unique Pro-Am format event, raised £1,773 through sponsorship as well as contributing from his own pocket for every bunker he found himself in throughout the competition!
Players, spectators and tournament staff helped raise awareness and much needed funds for Beatson Cancer Charity by turning the first day of competition into #WearItYellow day. Yellow, a colour associated with the charity, could be seen all over the course with a number of players kitting themselves out from head to toe, including Scotland’s Kylie Walker, originally from Glasgow.
Kylie said: “It was a pleasure to be able to show our support to such a fantastic cause in Beatson Cancer Charity by wearing yellow, as well as contributing to the fundraising through the Aberdeen Asset Management Birdie Pledge. I’m delighted to hear such a great amount has been raised through the event.”
All money raised for Beatson Cancer Charity will support the thousands of patients and their families who visit The Beatson and its related facilities each year. Funding will help the charity continue to provide a comprehensive range of patient and family support including wellbeing and complementary therapies provided through the charity’s unique and award-winning Wellbeing Centre, throughout the cancer centre at related facilities across the West of Scotland.
Lynda Affleck, Head of Charitable Giving at Aberdeen Asset Management, said: “We are delighted that such a wonderful sum has been raised to support Beatson Cancer Charity. We are also pleased that through their role as official charity at the Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open at Dundonald Links, we have helped to raise awareness of their fantastic work with cancer patients and their families in the West of Scotland.
“It has been a pleasure for us to work with Beatson Cancer Charity at the Ladies Scottish Open, and to raise this great sum. Our thanks go to all the players, the spectators, and the volunteers for showing their support on ‘Wear It Yellow’ day and throughout the event, without everyone’s support this wouldn’t have been possible.”
David Welch, Chief Executive of Beatson Cancer Charity, said: “We are extremely grateful to everyone at Aberdeen Asset Management and everyone involved in the Ladies Scottish Open and the staff at Dundonald Links for supporting Beatson Cancer Charity for a second year running. The Ladies Scottish Open is a fantastic event with some spectacular golf on a great course and the money raised through everyone’s passion and dedication is simply amazing.
“On behalf of everyone at The Beatson, my sincere thanks to everyone involved at Aberdeen Asset Management for such generous support for the charity a special thank you to the players, organisers, spectators, staff and local organisations who helped raise thousands of pounds for Beatson Cancer Charity which will go a long way in helping people are affected by cancer both now and in the future.”
Michael Wood, Tournament Director of the Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open, said: “We would like to thank Aberdeen Asset Management for their support of the ‘Birdie Pledge’, as well as the players, spectators and volunteers for the significant contributions they made throughout the week. Through their generosity, we have raised a fantastic sum of money for a wonderful cause.”
For more information on Beatson Cancer Charity please visit: www.beatsoncancercharity.org
