Fundraising Golf Day

SAPS Widows and Orphans Fund golfday hosted by Mike Procter

R300,000 was raised at this year's SAPS Widows and Orphans Fund Golf Day fund-raiser event held at Mount Edgecombe Country Club o 8 May, 2008.

"Over the last four years the golf day has raised over R750,000 that assists the families of the SAPS members who have passed on and this year we would like to say a big thank you to the South African Rugby Legends Association for making this year such a memorable occasion," said Director Marius Janse Van Rensburg.

Kim Jackson was quoted to say "On behalf of The South African Rugby Legends we would like to thank those sporting Legends mentioned and the many others who joined us on this special day"

180 golfers took to the greens on the pristine course to raise funds for the dependants of police officials who have been killed in the line of duty. The fund is dependent on the voluntary contributions, donations and fund-raising events such as this golf day. 400 families receive financial assistance in KwaZulu Natal alone, and last year a total of R2,7 million was paid out to the families.

The SAPS Widows and Orphans Fund was created four years ago by former devastating fast bowler, Mike Procter who initially organised a golf day with the intention of fixing up the local police station. Friend of Procter's, Peter Scales, urged that the golf day be of more significance to the community than just adding a coat of paint to the police station and the SAPS Widows and Orphans Fund was born.

The first golf day was held and they had hoped to raise as much money as they could and were elated when they raised over R100,000. The next year sporting legends and heroes were invited to support the police and each year the event has increased in size with tremendous support coming from both the community and businesses.

"We couldn't have asked for better weather being out on the course soaking up the winter's sun. It was a marvellous turn-out and everyone enjoyed themselves." Host, Mike Procter stated before introducing the two special guests for the evening, Ian MacIntosh and Graeme Pollock.

At the function, the members of the 1995 and 2007 Springbok Rugby World Cup Champions were honoured and two paintings that had John Smit and Thabo Mbeki and the 1995 Captain Francois Pienaar and the then president Nelson Mandela were auctioned along with other sporting memorabilia. The items were auctioned off for R198,000 and in total R300,000 was raised on the day for the SAPS Widows and Orphans Fund.

The evening festivities included interviews with Graeme Pollock, Ian MacIntosh, Dick Muir and Gary Teichmann with Dick Muir delighting the crowd with his sense of humour.

The winners of the golf day were Gavin Moodley, James Ellis, Ivan Moodley and Shadrack Govender. Players from as far afield as Johannesburg came down to take part in this significant event.