Clarke Joins Forces with CLIC Sargent

The Darren Clarke Foundation has joined forces with The Tour Players’ Foundation, the charitable foundation of the European Tour, in support of the Official Charity of the 2012 Irish Open – CLIC Sargent.

The UK’s leading cancer charity for children and young people, CLIC Sargent provide clinical, practical and emotional support for young cancer patients and their families, from diagnosis onwards.

The charity will be the beneficiaries of the 2012 Irish Open Birdie Pledge that will see The Tour Players’ Foundation and the Darren Clarke Foundation each donate £10 per birdie, £20 per eagle and £50 per albatross scored during the four rounds of the Irish Open.

A European Tour event produces an average of 1500 birdies, meaning CLIC Sargent could be in line to receive over £30,000 by the end of the Irish Open at Royal Portrush Golf Club from June 28 – July 1.

CLIC Sargent will channel all of the funds raised during the Irish Open to their Northern Ireland Homes from Home Appeal, which has a goal of providing free self-catering accommodation in Belfast within walking distance of the specialist treatment centers for more than 200 children and young people being treated for cancer in Northern Ireland each year, to alleviate both the financial and physical strain put on the children and families by the travel to and from their treatment sessions.

Reigning Open Champion Clarke said “I am delighted to team up with the Tour Players’ Foundation to support CLIC Sargent through my own Foundation at this year’s Irish Open. CLIC Sargent is an amazing charity and the work they do with young cancer patients and their families is truly inspirational.

“Hopefully we will have great scoring conditions at Portrush next month and we can raise as much money as possible through the Birdie Pledge.”

Mark Roe, Chairman of the Tour Players’ Foundation, said: “To have Darren come on board as a charity partner to the Tour Players’ Foundation at this year’s Irish Open is a huge boost to the tournament and a magnificent gesture from one of the most generous players on Tour.

“We hope that others will be inspired to follow Darren’s example and partner us both in the Birdie Pledge, helping to raise as much money as possible for this profoundly worthy cause at this year’s Irish Open.”

Barry McGuigan, CLIC Sargent Patron said; “This is a fantastic gesture from Darren Clarke and the Tour Players Foundation and I would like to thank them for their generous support. Families in Northern Ireland travel on average up to 95 miles, five times a week, to receive the cancer treatment their child needs. So we know that CLIC Sargent’s Homes from Home Appeal will make a massive difference to those families.”

Clones Cyclone CLIC's for Irish Open

The European Tour and its charitable arm, the Tour Players Foundation, have announced CLIC Sargent Northern Ireland as the Official Charity of the 2012 Irish Open, which will be held at Royal Portrush Golf Club from June 28 – July 1.

A leading cancer charity for children and young people and their families, CLIC Sargent NI provides clinical, practical, financial and emotional support. 

From diagnosis onwards, the charity’s aim is to help the whole family deal with the impact of cancer and its treatment, life after treatment and, in some cases, bereavement.

The appointment is aimed at raising the profile of CLIC Sargent, as well as offering the opportunity to raise significant funds for the charity’s recently-launched ‘Homes from Home Appeal’.

The Appeal’s goal is to build Homes from Home accommodation in close proximity to Belfast’s two cancer specialist treatment centres - The Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children and The Belfast City and Northern Ireland Cancer Centre.

CLIC Sargent Patrons, former WBA World Featherweight boxing champion Barry McGuigan and his wife Sandra, joined Tour Players Foundation Trustees and staff from The European Tour at Wentworth Golf Club for the announcement.

McGuigan said: “CLIC Sargent research tells us that, on average, families in Northern Ireland travel 95 miles up to five times a week to access the cancer treatment their child needs. The Homes from Home will ease that financial and emotional burden and most importantly, will create a place for families to stay together away from the hospital.

“We are proud to be associated with such an important event for Northern Ireland and we hope the generous public will get behind our campaign to raise much-needed funds for two Homes from Home.”

Jonathan Orr, Tour Players Foundation Trustee, said: “CLIC Sargent was chosen by the Irish Open and Tour Players Foundation due to its great reputation for the support it offers children with cancer and their families. The Homes from Home Appeal allows the Irish Open to leave a lasting legacy in Northern Ireland.”

Innovative fundraising initiatives for CLIC Sargent will take place in the run up to and during the week of the Irish Open, which takes place in Northern Ireland for the first time in almost 60 years.