Over £200,000 raised at annual Leeds golf charity day

The Niamh Rutherford Golf Classic was held at Leeds Golf Club in May and was attended by over 100 players made up of clients and professionals from the business community in and around the city.

The event is now in its 23rd year and is a fundraiser for the Neonatal Units at Leeds Children’s Hospital, which will contribute towards much needed medical equipment for sick and premature babies born in the region.

The golf day was first held as a one-off event in 1993.

It was set up originally by Mr Pat McCabe following the Unit’s successful treatment of his granddaughter, Niamh, the event proved such an enjoyable and worthwhile way of raising funds that it is now a firm fixture on the local golfing calendar.

Niamh, now aged 24, attended the golf day and presented this year’s cheque to Dr Lawrence Miall from Leeds Children’s Hospital Neonatal Unit.

Dr Miall said: “The Niamh Rutherford Golf Classic has been a fantastic source of support for the Leeds Neonatal unit over the last 20 years.

“Seeing Niamh grow from a tiny premature baby to a healthy young woman is very rewarding for us, and the equipment this event has funded has helped provide intensive care life support to literally hundreds of babies.

“I’d like to say thank you to everyone who took part and especially to the team at the Allied Irish Bank for their ongoing support.”

Golfers play to win the Pat McCabe Memorial Trophy, honouring the life of its founder who sadly passed away a few years ago.

This year’s winners were Gordons LLP.