Outgoing Hainsworth Park Golf Club gents’ captain Brian Miller said he was overcome with emotion when he handed over a cheque worth over £10,500 to representatives of the local Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA)
Since he started his term as captain at the Brandesburton club last January, Brian Miller and his fellow members have been taking part in events to raise funds for the Hull and East Yorkshire Group of the only charity in the country that focuses on MND care, research and campaigning.
Skydives, running and walking challenges, as well as golf related events, have all helped to raise £10,581.78, and a cheque was presented to Hull and East Yorkshire group representatives Andrew Hancock and Kevin Hara at the weekend.
Brian, whose year as captain comes to an end on Saturday, praised his fellow club members for their support with his fundraising efforts.
“It was a great total to raise for the Motor Neurone Disease Association,” he said.
“It would have been nice to raise even more, but we just ran out of time unfortunately.
“I’ve had massive support from all the members of the club over the last 12 months.
“The fundraising started when one of our members, a 77-year-old chap, did a skydive, which was a brilliant way to kick off proceedings.
“Then one of my colleagues, who is also a member of the golf club, ran the Ilkley Half Marathon on our behalf, which raised a good amount.
“My challenge was to walk 500 miles. If I did that on my own, it would take a long time, so I roped in 49 other volunteers and we all walked 10 miles, which equated to 500 and that raised a big chunk of money.
“There were several other fundraisers over the year, such as putting competitions and quirky events that the members could get involved with.
“The members have been fantastic, and I really want to thank them so much for all their efforts.”
In recent years, MND has been at the forefront of the public’s minds after several high-profile athletes were diagnosed with the devastating disease that causes muscle weakness and currently has no cure.
Rugby league player Rob Burrow raised awareness of MND with friend and teammate Kevin Sinfield before he passed away in 2024 at the age of 41.
Another sports star to be diagnosed with MND was Scottish rugby union player Doddie Weir.
After his diagnosis in 2016, Weir became involved in campaigning and fundraising and set up the My Name’5 Doddie foundation, raising £8 million for MND research.
Brian knew Weir from his rugby union playing days and that was one of the reasons he decided to support MNDA throughout his year as captain.
“I’ve been a sportsman throughout my life, and I’ve now taken up golf after retiring from rugby, football and boxing,” he said.
“In my heyday, when I was playing rugby, which was when I first came out of the Navy, I became friendly with Doddie Weir.
“MND has been highlighted in the media in recent years through Rob Burrow and a friend of mine from Beverley, an ex-serviceman, was diagnosed with the disease around three years ago and I saw how he deteriorated very rapidly.
“The club’s link with the Hull and East Yorkshire MNDA has proved very fruitful and it was emotional, almost tearful, handing over the cheque to them.
“Andrew (Hancock) and Kevin (Hara) do a great job for this area and the support I have had from MNDA has been fantastic.
“Everybody who did the sponsored walk was supplied with t-shirts and I’ve got to take my hat off to them.
“My vice-captain, Matt, a very good friend of mine, will take over from me this Saturday, and he has said he will continue with the fundraising for the MNDA.
“We’re hoping to raise a similar amount, or even more, and we hope to have another successful year.”
The Hull and East Yorkshire Group of MNDA provides support to people in the area with MND, their families and carers.
Andrew said that all the money raised by Brian and members of Hainsworth Park Golf Club will be used to continue that vital support for years to come.
“On behalf of the Hull and East Yorkshire MNDA Group, I would like to say a big thank you to Brian and Hainsworth Park Golf Club for this incredible donation,” he said.
“Brian has put in tremendous hard work and it’s amazing that he and the other members have raised so much in just a year.
“We are so grateful to him and the club, and it will help everyone in the area affected by motor neurone disease so much, with all the money to be spent in Hull and the East Riding.
“We had no idea how much had been raised before we turned up and we were so overwhelmed.”
