A KEEN golfer raised thousands of pounds in his dad's memory to thank the hospice that offered vital support during the toughest of times.

Ian Rumbold's father Stewart spent his final months in Prospect Hospice after receiving a terminal cancer diagnosis in 2014.

Ian initially struggled to cope with this devastating loss but the hospice's counselling and the birth of his son helped him keep going.

Ian, 33, said: "I had a bit of a meltdown after dad died. Prospect's counselling was amazing and their door was always open if mum and I were struggling.

"Dad died on May 18 and my little boy Jaxon's due date was May 18 2015, exactly a year later. The world works in wonderful ways and that made a difficult time a bit nicer.

"Prospect cared for dad so much and did a lot for my friends' families so we wanted to repay what they gave us.

"It took me three years to pluck up the courage to organise a fundraiser in his memory and it's raised more than I ever expected."

Ian hosted the first golf day for Prospect Hospice in 2018 and brought it back earlier this year, raising more than £8,000 in total with the help of more than 60 golfers.

He's now preparing for the third event at Bowood Golf and Country Club next August.

Ian added: "I have a lot of happy memories of my dad and I playing golf together. He was just about to retire before he got the cancer diagnosis and had planned to spend his retirement golfing.

"That's why I thought these golf events would be a good way to honour him and was something I felt I could organise quite well.

"How much it has raised has blown my mind, I’m so thankful to everyone who has supported me and I want to keep it growing every year and see how big it can get."

The golf day will be held on Sunday August 30 2020 at Bowood Golf and Country Club, teeing off at 10.30am.

Places are priced at £300 for a team of four and the cost includes 18 holes of golf, refreshments, a bacon roll and evening meal with a raffle and prize draw.

Community and events fundraiser at Prospect Hospice Vikki Rath said: “On behalf of the charity, I’d like to say a huge thank you to Ian and everyone that’s supported him in making this golf day such a success.

"I know that Ian was keen to give back to the hospice after we cared for his dad and it takes a lot to organise such an event.

"I also know that, above all, he wanted to make his dad proud and he’s done much more than that.”

Organisers are keen to hear from sponsors who would like to get involved with a cost of £100 per hole.

To find out more, email irumbold86@gmail.com