SWINDON CANCER APPEAL: THREE golfing buddies will be teeing off for our Macmillan appeal next month.

Golf enthusiast Philip Ward, 38, of Stratton St Margaret, has organised a fundraising golf day.

Philip planned it as part of the Macmillan's Longest Day fundraising drive on June 21, but he has decided to delay it so the golfers can raise more cash.

He now plans to hold it on July 10 at the Shrivenham Park golf course.

The Longest Day Challenge is specifically designed for fundraising golf tournaments.

Philip, a father of three who works as a computer programmer at Arval PHH fleet management in Swindon, will be joined on the course by friends Mark Thomas and David Holmes.

They hope to raise around £700 by completing four rounds of 18 holes.

They plan to start at around 4.30am, and the event should take them 16 hours to complete.

Philip said: "We all enjoy golf, and we just thought Macmillan was a really good cause.

"Everybody knows someone who has had cancer."

The Swindon Cancer Appeal was launched in March to raise £600,000 in three years for Macmillan Cancer Relief.

The money will pay for two Macmillan nurses and a cancer care specialist for Swindon.

Anyone who wishes to sponsor Philip should call him on (01793) 895774.

Graziella Campisano, appeal manager at Macmillan's Swindon office, urged more people to pick up their clubs and take part in the Longest Day Challenge.

She said: "It is quite challenging as four rounds of golf in one day is quite tough.

"But it is also highly enjoyable, great fun and a rewarding way to raise money for our appeal."

Day on the greens

If you are a fan of the fairway, why not take part in the Longest Day Challenge?

Golfers are sponsored to play four rounds of golf in one day in the weeks leading up and following June 21, the longest day.

The idea is to allow players to take advantage of the light evenings, and raise money to help cancer patients.

The fundraising drive runs between June 14 and July 14.

For further information call Macmillan's Swindon office on 601636 or visit www.macmillan.org.uk

To make a donation to the appeal online, click here.

Tell us about your fundraising event, click here.