Captains in full swing to boost charities

Keith Smith, the new men's captain, will be supporting the breast cancer unit at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, in memory of his wife who died from the disease 10 years ago.

Women's captain Sheila Band, who has acted as delegate for Ludlow and Shrewsbury in the golfing world, will raise money for Hearing Dogs for the Deaf.

Smith said: "The unit at Shrewsbury Hospital provides excellent care and treatment for this disease that one in eight women are likely to get.

"However, if caught early this disease is treatable, so I'm keen to help hospitals detect breast cancer earlier and make breakthroughs in its treatment."

The club captains will remain figureheads for the year, encouraging members to participate in a wide range of competitions and activities to raise money for their elected charities.

The first drive sees each captain smash a golf ball down the first fairway, as a symbol of a competition that used to determine who would be captain for the year.

Smith, who has been a member of Shrewsbury for 50 years, said: "Golf is a great game and when I began playing at the age of 17 my focus was on getting better.

"Today, I enjoy the camaraderie because the friends you make at the club over the years are one of the best things about playing and being a member.

"I'm looking forward to my year as captain and helping the club become prosperous with members old and new enjoying their golf throughout the year."

Band, who has played for 30 years, joined Shrewsbury in 2008. She said: "I selected Hearing Dogs for the Deaf because they give children and adults a new lease of life.

"When they lose their hearing they often feel isolated and lose confidence.

"Hearing dogs do so much more than the practical tasks of alerting their owners to sounds like the door-bell or warnings such as smoke alarms.

"They bring confidence and independence back to their owners, so I am pleased our members will be raising valuable funds for them."