TWO dedicated golfers have pledged to put their skills to the test to help save lives.

The captain and lady captain of Heyrose Golf Club in Knutsford are launching a new ’18 on 18 challenge’ for their chosen charities.

Captain Nick Shennan and lady captain Kathy Smith are attempting to get round 18 different golf courses across Cheshire and play one hole on each course.

The pair will will tee off on Tuesday, August 30 and are appealing for sponsorship.

The pair are raising funds for the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and Knutsford Community First Responders Trust (KRFCT).

Tony Gear, from Sandbach is organising the event.

Kathy, from Pickmere, said: “From a throw away comment over dinner, this has developed into a big thing for Nick and I and we are so proud to do this for our charities.

“Thank you to everyone for supporting us especially Heyrose and my family and friends.

“Just hope Tony gets all the timings right and we get back to Heyrose some time the same day.”

Nick, from Middlewich, said: “Looking forward to the challenge of doing something a bit different to raise funds for our chosen charities.

“We are very grateful to all the clubs who are supporting us on the day and especially to Heyrose.”

Money raised will help fund the vital work carried out by responders, who work tirelessly and selflessly to save lives in Knutsford and around Cheshire.

First responders are a group of volunteers trained by and work with paramedics and tend to casualties until an ambulance arrives.

The charity provides free monthly heartstart courses, installs and maintains public defibrillators and funds two young adult cardiac screening days each year.

Adrian Rees, from KRFCT, said: “We need to raise money from local residents and businesses each year to enable us to provide our vital lifesaving services to Knutsford and surrounding communities.

“We are absolutely delighted that Heyrose Golf Club has chosen us as their joint charity this year”

The challenge will also help the BHF to fund lifesaving research into heart and circulatory conditions such as coronary heart disease, stroke and, vascular dementia, and their risk factors such as high blood pressure and diabetes.

Phoebe Williams, BHF fundraising manager, said: ”We are honoured that Heyrose Golf Club has chosen to support us as one of its charity partners.

“Heart and circulatory diseases cause a quarter of all deaths in the UK each year.

“The money raised is vital for us to continue our lifesaving research to find better ways of diagnosing, preventing, and treating these conditions. We are so excited to see what we can achieve together.”

The challenge, which begins at Antrobus Golf Club at 6am and will take about 13-14 hours, will be spread out across 18 golf clubs in Cheshire.

The 18th hole will be played at Heyrose Golf Club, where the captain and lady captain will be welcomed back with an evening buffet for representatives of all the clubs involved.

This celebration is being supplied by club proprietors Elizabeth and Hugo Bridge and as many members of Heyrose and any other club involved who would like to show their support.

Clubs supporting the challenge include Antrobus, High Legh, Mere, Knutsford, Alderley Adge, Wilmslow, Vale Royal Abbey, Sandiway, Heyrose, Lymm, Prestbury, Tyehrington, Macclesfield, Congleton, Astbury, Malkins Bank and Sandbach.

To donate visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/heyrose-golf-club-18-on-18-fore-charity