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You are here  : Home Press 2009 Press Releases 2009 Dreamers bring pleasure to children receiving hospital treatment
Dreamers bring pleasure to children receiving hospital treatment
Written by Communications Lead   

Winter and summer for 18 years, The Golfing Dreamers have come up trumps for youngsters receiving treatment at Ashford and St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust.          
 
Most recently they also paid for tickets for 13 children to go to the Pantomime at the New Victoria Theatre, Woking and, as if that wasn’t enough, they also funded the Christmas party for young patients and their families. In the summer they funded an outing to Thorpe Park for the youngsters and their brothers and sisters. In previous summers they have funded the annual Black Cab drivers outing to theme parks for chronically sick children and their siblings.
 
Said The Golfing Dreamers treasurer, Gordon Putley: “Following an encounter with a terminally ill child, who was experiencing his own dream coming true, thanks to another charity, one of the Dreamers felt he would like to become involved in a similar project. As a result, in February 1991 Harry Mallace and myself met to discuss the possibility of holding an annual Charity Golf Day with a view to raising money to send terminally or seriously ill children, with their families, on a dream holiday. Thus ‘The golfing Dreamers’ was born.
 
“From the outset it was a fundamental principle that not one penny of the money raised would be deducted for expenses or overheads.  As a small, independent charity we rely totally on donations from the Golf days, friends, colleagues and organisations who recognise the benefits that every penny donated will be spent on the children.
 
“In 1991 our first Golf Day was held at the London Scottish Golf Club and since then we have been given the courtesy of the Club every year to raise further funds to send many other children on their dream holidays and make donations to local hospitals.
                                                                                                                                              
“We became a Registered Charity in 1993 and since our formation have raised over £300,000 and sent away over 310 children on their dream holiday. We have also made many donations to various local hospitals and The White Lodge Centre Chertsey.
 
We have supported St Peter’s Hospital for the past 18 years and look forward to continuing this relationship for many years to come. St Peter’s is our local hospital and it has been a pleasure to be able to support the Children's Ward by paying for Christmas presents and parties, Panto visits and any other outings. We are a small local Registered Charity who rely on donations from the Golf Days, friends, colleagues and organisations who recognise the benefits of donating to a Charity with no overheads or expenses. Every penny raised is spent on making Dreams come True for terminally ill or seriously ill children.”
 
Said Hospital play specialist Emma McFadyen: “The youngsters had a wonderful time at the pantomime, and meeting the cast afterwards was a big surprise! They all went very quiet when we were shown into the room and all the cast were there in their costumes. They were super and lovely and we had lots of laughs and giggles! And then, thanks to The Dreamers, we were able to take the children out for a meal. The continuing generosity of The Golfing Dreamers is very special and very much appreciated by us all.”