A GOLF event putt more than £7,000 towards the running of two mobile cancer care units.

The units are operated by Airedale Hospital, in partnership with the charity Hope For Tomorrow.

Trevor Wilson, a patient at the Steeton hospital’s Haematology and Oncology Unit, wanted to give something back in recognition of the kindness shown to him by staff.

So he co-organised a charity golf day, with Paul Thirkettle, to raise money for the mobile units.

The event – held at Ilkley Golf Club in the summer – coined-in £7,450, which has now been handed over at the hospital.

Trevor said: “I started planning the golf day back in January with Paul – and we had a fantastic response.

“The lockdown then hit and things had to be halted until June.

“Once the restrictions were lifted and we were able to meet outside, we decided it would provide a real boost for people if we ran the event.

“We were amazed at the response. We had 40 teams of four people – each team paying £200 to enter – and held a competition in both the morning and the afternoon.

“It was a super family day out. We ran a barbecue and a bar, all socially distanced.

“The event gave everyone a real lift. And knowing we were raising money for such a good cause was the icing on the cake.”

Among those who attended the event was Pat Dyminski, a clinical nurse specialist at the hospital, who said she was “bowled over” at the response.

“We were absolutely staggered at how much money was raised,” she added.

“The mobile cancer units travel far and wide across our catchment area. They take cancer treatment to people near their homes, saving them having to travel to the hospital.

“We are so grateful to all the participants in the golf day and to Ilkley Golf Club for hosting it, as this money will keep the wheels turning.

“Most of all we’d like to thank Trevor and Paul for organising the event. They are staunch supporters of the unit and we are very thankful to them both. Their generosity means that other cancer patients will continue to have their care in our mobile units, which is great news.”

Kelly Davies, from Hope For Tomorrow, also pays tribute.

“Fundraisers like Trevor and Paul are very special,” she said.

“Hope For Tomorrow receives no Government funding, which means that without fundraisers we would be unable to build and maintain the mobile cancer care units that are so vital to the communities they serve.

“The money raised will make a huge difference, paying to keep the Airedale units on the road for over a month and giving the patients who receive their treatments on board extra time with their loved ones this Christmas.”