Everyone is feeling the pinch at the moment and we can all do with a helping hand now and then which is why, when Chamber patron AstraZeneca chose the Silklife Foodbank as one of their nominated local charities for 2023/24 and then approached chamber member Marton Meadows Golf Course with the idea of a Golf Themed Fundraiser, the club jumped at the chance to lend their support.
Proprietor of Marton Meadows GC, Kelle Hares, already volunteers for the charity and so the club were delighted to not only agree to support the proposed event but also to host it.
This weekend will see the culmination of weeks of planning with AstraZeneca’s ‘Silklife Foodbank Charity Challenge’ taking place at Marton Meadows GC on Saturday 17 June 2023 from 1pm.
At the core of the event is a nine hole Texas Scramble Open Competition, with a live presentation for the winning team and the opportunity for one lucky team to walk away with tickets for this year’s 151st Open Championship at Royal Liverpool in July. There will be virtual golf experiences available in The Bunker, Marton Meadows’ state-of-the-art golf simulator studio, and chipping challenges in the outdoor practice area.
Golfers can also take advantage of club cleaning services on offer on the day with the Silklife Foodbank Roadshow, DJ, Raffle, BBQ and outside Bar all on hand to help things go with a swing!
All funds raised at the event will be matched by AstraZeneca and donated to the Silklife Foodbank.
The Silklife Foodbank, Macclesfield exists to provide emergency food parcels for people facing a hunger crisis situation in Macclesfield and Bollington. Referrals come via professionals in the public emergency services; health and social care division; housing support division; education sector and public advice lines such as Citizens Advice and Cheshire East Emergency Assist. The foodbank saw referrals more than double in the 2020/21 covid pandemic and this number has tripled since the Cost of Living Crisis (based on what was given out on a monthly average in 2019). Team Lead Co-ordinator of the 60 strong volunteer team, Dan Blackman, states “What concerns me most is that our service has seen the number of families reaching out for support increase by 30% in the last 12 months, this means that food poverty is now affecting children in our town more than ever before.”
Dan continues, “With food donations down due to food prices at the tills on the increase, we are now relying more and more upon fundraising to be able to continue this great service. If you are a golfer, please pick up the phone and call Marton Meadows today and book a team on the event to raise important funds for the foodbank. Thank you.”
Dan finishes by saying, ” I am so very proud of all those involved in making the Silklife Foodbank what it is. From those who organise food collections to those who donate through the various donation points; school and workplace collections and those who donate through justgiving; those who sort, date, stock and manage the food; to those who bag and deliver the food; those in admin; those who organise events; to those who will sit and talk with clients and to those services we signpost to. What a team we have”.
For more information on the wonderful work the Silklife Foodbank do in our local community or to discover ways to support them, go to their Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=SILKLIFE%20FIOODBANK
To find out more about AstraZeneca’s Silklife Charity Challenge at Marton Meadows Golf Course this weekend, call: 01260 224008.
