Prostate Cancer UK calls on golfers to tackle The Big Golf Race

Prostate Cancer UK is calling on golfers across the UK to grab their clubs, round up playing partners and take on The Big Golf Race, the UK’s biggest golf fundraising challenge, to help save men’s lives.

Since The Big Golf Race was launched in 2020, more than 11,500 golfers have raised over £3.4m to help fund life-saving research to radically improve the way prostate cancer is diagnosed and treated.

This year, the leading men’s health charity is urging more golfers to take part in The Big Golf Race to help save dads, grandads, brothers, uncles and friends from a disease that affects 1 in 8 men in the UK.

Golfers willing to take on The Big Golf Race have three fundraising options: the Marathon (consisting of playing 72-holes in a day and walking an average of 26 miles); the Half Marathon (36-holes over 13.1 miles) or the formidable Ultra Marathon (100-holes over 35 miles).

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The top fundraisers will have a chance to win some fantastic golf prizes, including a full bag of Titleist golf clubs and fitting, and a Motocaddy electric trolley and bag.

To help facilitate the challenge, Prostate Cancer UK – bunkered‘s official charity partner for 2024 – is working with the UK Golf Federation, which represents the owners of 1,200 courses in the UK, to support sponsored players in booking multiple rounds across the country.

The British Golf Industry Association (BGIA), which represents UK golf brands, has also pledged to promote The Big Golf Race to its members this year, as has Prostate Cancer UK partners The PGA, who are encouraging their members to pledge tee times for golfers taking on the challenge.

HowDidiDo, which holds the handicaps, results and scores of more than 1.2 million UK golf club members, is also supporting The Big Golf Race in 2024.

“We’ve seen in previous years just how many golfers get behind The Big Golf Race and they’ve helped to build it into a fun yet challenging way of helping to save men’s lives. Every golfer who completes one of the three challenges this summer is making a huge difference for men and their families,” said Chris Jarrett, Director of Fundraising at Prostate Cancer UK.

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“The Big Golf Race has become an integral part of the fundraising calendar, and we’re delighted to be able to help more golfers take on the challenge this year, meaning more money will be raised to fund life-saving research into better tests and treatments to keep men in the game for longer.

“We’re hugely grateful to everyone in the golf community who has committed to supporting The Big Golf Race this year and wish everyone taking part the best of luck.”

To launch the 2024 Big Golf Race, golfing media, social media content creators, partners and stakeholders were joined at an event this week by Prostate Cancer UK ambassadors and supporters at four-time Ryder Cup venue, The Belfry Hotel & Resort. Hosted by BBC Sport golf correspondent Iain Carter, they enjoyed a round on the prestigious Brabazon course after learning about the impact The Big Golf Race has had and how their support this will help save men’s lives.

Among those backing The Big Golf Race for 2024 is former Masters champion and Prostate Cancer UK golf ambassador, Danny Willett.

“The golf community’s response to The Big Golf Race has been incredible, so it’s no surprise that it’s now the biggest golf fundraising challenge in the UK,” he said. “It just goes to show just how far golfers will go to raise money for an incredible cause and I’ll be doing all I can to help them this year.”

For the first time this year, a host of famous faces from the world of golf and entertainment are lending their support by becoming Big Golf Race ‘Head Professionals’, with the likes of Willett, YouTube’s top golf content creator Rick Shiels, social media nutrition expert Graeme Tomlinson aka The Fitness Chef, and DJ and golf fan DJ Spoony sharing their tips on how to conquer The Big Golf Race.

To sign up to The Big Golf Race for Prostate Cancer UK, visit the website.