captain's page

Graham Adams, BUNGS Captain 2012.

Hi all! Happy New Year! I hope you’re all looking forward to 2012 as much as I am.

I have been a member of the Society now for 10 years and feel very privileged to be your Captain this year. Over these years BUNGS has become very special to me, combining, as it does, great camaraderie with some wonderful venues where we meet to play this obsessive sport of ours.

I must first of all pay tribute to my immediate predecessor Dave Grubb: When Dave announced 12 months ago that part of his fund raising effort was to be tied to his losing weight I thought that he’d set himself a stiff task.  The only analogy that I can come up with is that it would be like me stopping smoking and putting all the money that I save into the fundraising pot! (And before any bright-spark suggests that, the answer is NO!) Whilst Dave’s weight may not have come down as much as he may have wished, the fundraising pot, on behalf of the Midlands Air Ambulance, nevertheless benefited. His efforts over the course of his Captaincy were outstanding, and he deserves tremendous praise for all he achieved.  With Dave’s performance, and that of the other preceding Captains of the Society, I have a lot to live up to.

With broad experience of it’s damaging effects, I have chosen The Stroke Association as the recipient charity for funds raised during 2012. As a result of multiple Strokes (together with complications) my wife has been a resident in a Nursing Home for the past decade, and is now bedridden and fed through a tube. Also, in early February, 2008, I played golf with my best friend. From nowhere, he suffered a Stroke the following Tuesday, and never recovered, passing away 10 days later. As you can imagine, the aims of The Stroke Association are something I feel very deeply about. It is the only charity solely combating Stroke in people of all ages. Their vision is that we want a world where there are fewer strokes and all those touched by Stroke get the help they need. Their mission is to prevent Strokes and reduce their effect through providing services, campaigning, education and research. It is estimated that 150,000 people each year have their first Stroke – roughly 1 every 5 minutes. The Stroke Association provides support to Stroke survivors and their families, and research into the causes of the affliction.

I am sure most will have some idea of what a Stroke is, here is a link to enlighten you, and from there learn more: http://www.stroke.org.uk/information/about_stroke/index.html

And remember, if you suspect someone has suffered a Stroke, act FAST
Facial Weakness - can the person smile? Has their mouth or eye drooped?
Arm weakness - can the person raise both arms?
Speech problems - can the person speak clearly and understand what you say?
Time to call 999

I trust that the varied fundraising ideas I have will both be interesting and fun for all, and that you will choose to lend your support to my aims for the year. For this I thank all members in advance.

Here’s to a great 2012 for us all!

Graham

Captain's Par Three Challenge

At each golf day during 2012, I will be organising a Captain's Par Three Challenge to raise some money for the charity. Please click this PDF Link for information. Captain's Par 3 Challenge.

Free Golf Draw

To generate funds for the charity, I will also be conducting a draw whereby one BUNGS member receives “free” entrance to BUNGS Golf days in 2013. Further details can be seen by clicking he following link. Free Golf Draw.

Current Charity Total for 2012