A GRUELLING 72 hole golf challenge has raised more than £2,000 for two charities.

A team from Winsford-based business UK Container Maintenance (UKCM) completed the 14-hour endurance test at Carden Park Golf Course in Tarporley on Wednesday.

UKCM sales director Richard Delooze and factory director Ben Clarke joined the team.

Competitors trekked around 20 miles and hit the ball more than 300 times!

Northwich Guardian:

Andy Bailey, from St Luke's Hospice, and Helen Richie, from The Joshua Tree, with James Martin, Ben Clarke, Richard Delooze and Mitchel Brown

As well as testing golfers' physical attributes, it also put their mental toughness to the test as the sport requires the utmost concentration.

Fundraisers smashed their £2,000 target and will be donating all funds raised to UKCM’s chosen charity’s of the year, St Luke’s Hospice in Winsford and The Joshua Tree in Northwich.

Richard Delooze said: “As a family-owned close-knit business, we are constantly trying to push our employees outside of their comfort zones to generate money for great causes. I’d like to feel we can get over half the workforce involved in some kind of challenge over the next 12 months so we can give something back to our local community."

Northwich Guardian:

Ben Clarke, James Martin, Richard Delooze and Mitchel Brown

Andy Bailey, from St Luke’s Hospice, said, “We receive just 15 per cent of our funding from government so for the other 85 per cent we rely on local community and corporate support. It’s brilliant to have been chosen as one of UKCM’s charity of the year!”

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Helen Ritchie, corporate partnership officer at The Joshua Tree, said: "The funds raised from UKCM’s charity golf day will go towards building our new purpose built support centre in Sandiway which will provide an appropriate and much needed environment for our families, accommodating children of all ages from toddlers through to teenagers and young adults. The support we’re getting from UKCM is incredibly helpful.”

The team were up at first light for a 6am tee off and finished at around 8pm.

To donate visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/UKCM