Rollits replaces golf day with Charity Challenge to support local causes

Pat Coyle of Rollits with Jethro Shearring (centre) of Dove House Hospice and Brian Deehan of Muscular Dystrophy UK in East Yorkshire at Brough Golf Club at a recent golf day.

A LAW firm which has been driving support for charities for more than 30 years with its annual golf day is drawing up list of fundraising ideas for all after losing this year’s event to the lockdown restrictions.

Rollits, which has offices in Hull and York, has raised more than £140,000 since launching its golf day in 1970, with the East Yorkshire branch of Muscular Dystrophy UK a beneficiary since day one and Dove House Hospice in Hull receiving support for 25 years.

The course at Brough Golf Club is open but uncertainty earlier in the year as to whether the event could take place has prompted the firm to come up with #RollitsCharityChallenge of alternative fundraising ideas based around the number 18.

Both charities have welcomed the move as an opportunity for non-golfers as well as the regular supporters and sponsors to get involved and help to plug the gap left by the cancellation of so many other physical fundraising events.

Brian Deehan, Chair of Muscular Dystrophy UK in East Yorkshire, said: “We’re so grateful to Rollits for coming up with the charity challenge in place of the golf day. It’s just so inspiring at the current time when all charities are really struggling to make ends meet.”

Jethro Shearring [correct], Regional Fundraiser for Dove House Hospice, added: “For over 25 years, the team at Rollits have always been there for the hospice, providing support and fundraising which has been instrumental in ensuring our patients and their loved ones can receive the care they need most.

“The coronavirus crisis has had a hugely negative impact on our work as we have been unable to generate invaluable funds through our charity shops or many other activities. We are so grateful to all at Rollits for finding a way to continue their vital support. Fundraising appeals such as the charity challenge are absolutely essential in helping to ensure that we can continue to provide our specialist care during these difficult times.”

Rollits has set up a web page to enable supporters to donate online through Virgin Money Giving.

Pat Coyle, Client Relations Director at Rollits, said: “We were very reluctant to cancel the golf day because it’s become an established fixture in the calendar and it makes an important contribution to the charities but it was just impossible to organise in such a short time so we had a rethink.

“We hope that some of the golf day regulars will play 18 holes of golf and donate to the cause. Others, who would normally never go near a golf club, could take part in other challenges such as walking 1.8 miles or kilometres, doing 18 press-ups or walking round the garden 18 times.

“We’re hoping for an even bigger response to the Charity Challenge because it provides a great opportunity for everyone to get involved in supporting two great charities at a time when they really need all the help they can get.

“It also means the activities don’t all have to take place on the same day or in the same place. We’re looking forward to hearing some innovative fundraising ideas around the number 18 that people can attempt at home or during a break at work, from swimming 18 lengths to baking 18 cakes!”

To join the #RollitsCharityChallenge campaign all you need to do is some form of activity around the number 18 (the number of holes on a golf course), post a video, photo or selfie on social media, tag us using #RollitsCharityChallenge and make your donation at https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/RollitsCharityChallenge

Or you can just donate …. It’s as simple as that!