Golf tournament raises thousands for charity

A joint services golf tournament is on course to raise around $20,000 for charity, it was revealed at the weekend.

The news came at the prizegiving, where Governor George Fergusson was at the Regiment’s Warwick Camp to hand over the awards to the winning teams.

A total of 22 teams from the uniformed services and local companies took part in the event, held at Riddells Bay Golf Course.

Regiment Captain Graham Benjamin, who represented the Regiment on the organising committee of the tournament along with Sergeant Major Martin Daley, said: “It’s a very worthwhile cause. We had the four services and invited other teams as well.”

Cpt. Benjamin added: “It’s important that we are seen to be doing something positive and hosting the event at Warwick Camp.

“We opened it up to any company that wanted to play as well.”

Deputy Police Commissioner Mike Jackman, who masterminded the event as part of Police Week, said the cash raised would go towards the Bermuda Hospitals Charitable Trust, the force’s designated charity for the year.

He added: “We think we will make our target – it’s very important for all the services to be involved in community work.

“If we don’t go out and support the community, we will not get the support of the community when we need it. The hospital is a very important part of the community. We’ll all need it at some point.

“The Regiment, the Fire Service and the Department of Corrections all helped support this.”

Wendy Augustus, executive officer of the Bermuda Hospitals Charitable Trust, said: “We are so thankful – we aim to provide first class, 21st century care for this island and we are grateful for the efforts of everyone on the island for all they have done.

“The uniformed services are all connected to the hospital and key and critical to us. The cooperation and synergy of all these groups is vital.”

The tournament, held on Friday, was won by a team from the Bermuda Fire & Rescue Service, followed by a police team in second place and a Department of Immigration team in third spot.

Telecommunications firm TBI came fourth, with police and the Fire Service taking fifth and sixth places respectively.

Mr Fergusson told the competitors: “Thank you to everybody for making the sacrifice and going out in the rain and playing a peculiar game for a very good cause.”

A Regiment career offers recruits opportunities to travel, acquire skills useful in civilian life, test themselves to their limits and competitive rates of pay, as well as a $300 bounty for new volunteers. For more information, call 238-1045 or visit www.bermudaregiment.bm .