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The charity is dedicated to raising vital funds for research into head and neck cancer and cancers affecting children and young adults. These are cancer types that are significantly underfunded and poorly studied compared to other cancers.

The prestigious golfing event was a fantastic way to enjoy one of Portugal’s finest golf courses while raising essential funds. Golf enthusiasts socialised and played alongside celebrities from the world of sport and entertainment in the four day programme and two-day golf competition from Thursday 9th – Sunday 12th July. The competition consisted of 17 teams of three players, each joined by a different celebrity each day. The winners of the Charity Golf Classic 2009 were Johnson Fitness, the reigning champions. The team of Jamie Burton, Craig Young and Thomas Maher were captained by legendary footballer Steve Bull MBE.

Celebrities who attended included actor and funny man Bradley Walsh, TV presenter Ben Shephard, ex footballer and TV presenter Bob Wilson OBE, actors Jamie Bamber, Colin Salmon and Johnny Briggs MBE, Rugby World Cup winner Kyran Bracken MBE, and singer Gareth Gates - to name but a few.

The Charity Golf Classic follows in the footsteps of the Safe Hands Charity Golf Classic, organised by Debbie Seaman, and provides much needed funds to support various charities. Previous recipients have been the NSPCC, the Willow Foundation, the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK, the Rhys Daniels Trust and the Cystic Fibrosis Trust. Funds for these charities have totalled in excess of one million pounds!

2009 is the first year that the Charity Golf Classic has supported the Paul Southgate Research Fund, which will raise money for critical research at University College London (UCL). 5,000 people in the UK each year are diagnosed with head and neck cancers which accounts for approximately 5% of all cancers diagnosed. Only 50% of patients survive for 5 years. Unfortunately the survival rate has not significantly increased in over a decade. This is why more money for research at UCL’s cancer initiative is so desperately needed. Funds raised will be used to characterise genetic abnormalities, to study the genetic basis of head and neck cancers and to identify potential novel drug targets in cancers affecting children and young adults.

Debbie Seaman commented ‘I am delighted to be supporting the Paul Southgate Research Fund and was honoured to launch this at the Charity Golf Classic 2009. Paul was a friend of mine and many others at the resort and as an avid golfer has supported the event in the past, even winning the Texas Scramble in our first year! I fondly referred to him as the ‘Cheeky Chappie’ because of his London roots and fun loving personality. Paul’s widow Lynne has established the fund as a tribute to him and it is my privilege to help her raise awareness and funds in his memory’.

The entire event was captured by a Sky Sports film crew and will be broadcast on 28th and 29th of July on Sky Sports 1, 2 and 3.

For further information about the charity visit www.ucl.ac.uk/cancer

source: http://www.the-news.net/