THE chosen charities of 2016 of Tavistock Golf Club captains Maurice Craze and Gail Reed were Pancreatic Cancer Action and the British Heart Foundation — with both charities receiving bumper cheques as a result. 

At the club’s annual cocktail party, Maurice welcomed members and thanked them for their hard work and help in raising money throughout the year. 

He gave special  thanks to Phil Gawman who arranged a successful invitation charity day with all the proceeds donated to the two charities.

Lady captain Gail Reed endorsed his remarks and said that she was delighted with the money that had been raised.  Because of the early death of her husband, the work of the Pancreatic Cancer Action charity was very special to her.

In receiving a cheque for £5,300 on behalf of Pancreatic Cancer Action, Jean Keast told members that: ‘All too often pancreatic cancer is misdiagnosed and with a 96% death rate - this needs to change.  The PCA works to promote awareness not only within the medical profession but also to the general public.  The charity receives just one per cent of the total cancer spend so raising funds is essential to fulfil this.  I was totally overwhelmed with this fantastic amount. The charity is well and truly delighted.’

The British Heart Foundation fundraising manager for Devon and Cornwall, Joy Petley, said she was delighted to receive the cheque for £5,300. 

‘Heart and circulatory disease affects around seven million people in the UK ‘ she said ‘and is responsible for around 155,000 deaths each year. The BHF is the leading independent funder of heart research and is committed to funding £500-million of new research over the next five years. 

‘Here in the South West cardiac survival rate is lower than the UK average, with less than one in 11 people surviving a cardiac arrest outside of hospital.’  

She told members it is essential to train up a Nation of Lifesavers so that  this figure can be reduced. 

To learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation email [email protected]