Today, as well as celebrating the success of the 2022 Sophie’s Appeal golf fundraiser tournament, hosted by 3D Personnel Ltd, at the fantastic Boundary Lakes Golf Club, we are pleased to announce that the 2023 edition has been confirmed, for the same venue, on the 8th of September 2023.
This year's event was held on Friday the 9th of September, where a great day's golf was enjoyed by all, despite the odd rain shower. In all, 18 teams took part, with a total of 70 golfers, and as is always the case with these golf days, some golfers fared better than others. Everyone was in agreement though, that it was a fantastic way to spend the day, supporting such a great cause. Over the course of the day and, in the following weeks a total of £11,705 was raised for Sophie’s Appeal.
A short history of the Sophie’s Appeal 3D Personnel Golf Fundraiser
The 2022 golf fundraiser tournament was the fifth time the event has been hosted by 3D Personnel. The inaugural golf fundraiser tournament took place in 2017.
Some of the special items auctioned off during the first golf fundraiser, included a pair of autographed Gareth Bale football boots, a signed Lions Rugby Jersey, and a special presentation Anthony Joshua frame with boxing glove, from his Wembley heavyweight thriller that year against Ukranian, Wlasimir Klitschko.
The event has continued every year since, apart from 2020, when due to the Covid Pandemic restrictions, it was cancelled.
So, we are already looking forward to hosting the event again next year, at Boundary Lakes Golf Club on the 8th of September.
3d Personnel Managing Director, Damian Doherty, has this to say, about 3D Personnel’s ongoing association with Sophie’s Appeal.
We were first introduced to Sophie’s Appeal in 2015, when we attended a charity ball in Southampton. Since then, 3D Personnel staff have been involved in fundraising for the charity.
We get to see first-hand how the money raised, helps local children attending the Northbrook Children’s Ward in Winchester Hospital. In 2019 the charity opened Sophie’s Rainbow Retreat, at Rockley Park, Poole, where they give families a chance to enjoy some time away together.
In 2017, we decided to raise money, through our 3D Personnel annual golf outing. This has grown year on year, and 2022 was our best attended event, so far. This year, we also raised the largest amount of money for the charity, to date.
We would like to thank all our suppliers and clients, for supporting our golf days. Mike has done a wonderful job in speaking about the charity, and helping our clients understand where the money will be used, that we raise each year.
3D Personnel look forward to working with Mike and Lin over the coming years.
Sophie’s Appeal – The Background
Sophie’s Appeal is a charity set up by Lin and Mike Barringer, in the aftermath of the untimely death of their beautiful daughter. Sophie Louise Barringer was diagnosed with Wilm’s Disease, a form of kidney cancer at the tender age of five.
Image: Sophie as a bridesmaid, aged 5 years of age
Below is an extract from the Sophie’s Appeal website:
Sophie immediately began an intensive regime of chemotherapy to try and shrink the tumour. Without surgery to remove the tumour her outlook was very bleak. After several weeks of chemotherapy, Sophie underwent a major operation during which her heart was stopped so that the surgeon could remove the tumour from her heart, liver and her left kidney. The operation was a success but, combined with the radiotherapy and continued chemotherapy, Sophie was very poorly.
Following weeks of touch and go, Sophie, pulled through and became well enough to leave the hospital and go home to her family in Eastleigh. Family life became almost normal; interspersed with regular visits to hospital for chemotherapy, blood tests, transfusions and more.
Life was turned upside down again when a routine scan gave us the news, we had all dreaded. The cancer had not been beaten and the chemotherapy was no longer working.
Sophie died at home on 9th December 2004.
Sophie’s Appeal - Projects
Over the years, since the charity’s inception, Sophie’s parents, along with the board of trustees and their many fundraising partners, have helped preserve Sophie’s memory, by supporting many great projects.
Sophie’s Rainbow Retreat – Rockley Park, Poole
The culmination of the Sophie’s Appeal project was the launch of Sophie’s Rainbow Retreat on the 3rd of March 2019 (which would have been Sophie’s 21st Birthday). This involved the purchase and repurposing of a respite break facility, within the Rockley Park complex in Poole. Providing space for a family of up to six persons, over time, it has offered respite care to hundreds of deserving families, from all around the Wessex region.
Sophie’s Place – Northbrook Ward at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital, Winchester
Having received some of her treatment on the Northbrook Ward, the charity helped to create Sophie’s Place, a purpose designed area of the ward, for treating children for routine treatments, tests, referrals from GP’s and more.
Piam Brown Children’s Cancer Ward – at Southampton General Hospital
This ward, where Sophie received most of her treatments, saw upgrading work, to improve the environment for children and parents attending the ward.
Beads of Courage
Started in 2004, this ongoing project sees children collect beads for the various treatments they receive, and for milestones reached in their treatments, and their young lives.
Sophie’s Surprises
Special days out are arranged for children, to help give them temporary relief from the stresses of hospital surroundings. Theatre trips and theme park visits are examples of activities.
Research
Special research projects are part funded by Sophie’s Appeal, including at Southampton General Hospital and University College, London.
You can see from the great work undertaken by the team at Sophie’s Appeal, why fundraising partners like 3D Personnel, are so committed to helping in whatever small way they can.
Should you wish to donate directly to Sophie’s Appeal please visit the JustGiving page.
The 3D Personnel hosted, 2022 Golf Fundraiser Tournament
In today’s look back at the 2022 Golf Fundraiser Tournament, we would like to acknowledge the fantastic support and sponsorship we received for this event. As mentioned previously, we had 18 teams competing this year, with a total of 70 golfers taking part. All entrants on the day, and those that couldn’t make it in person, but who kindly donated, are the lifeblood of this event.
With such a strong field of golfers, combined with the fantastic facilities at the Boundary Lakes Golf Club, a competitive and exciting days golf was guaranteed. And the golf lived up to expectations.
Congratulations to Jason Prewitt, on winning the individual event with 46 points
Congratulations also to Nick Furner from Bellway Homes, Wessex and his team
Janet Facer and the team at Boundary Lakes Golf Club, as always provided a great service. We all look forward to getting back there for the 2023 edition.
Our wonderful sponsors of prizes for the 2022 Sophie’s Appeal Charity Auction
Last but not least, we would like to again acknowledge and thank, the fantastic group of prize donors for the Charity Auction. They contributed in no small way, to the final total figure of £11,705 raised.
Shield Contract Services – Steve Casha
Omnia – Jay Pittaway
Navigate Contracting – Brian Conaghan
Trant – Sean Jordan
Auction items included tickets to various sporting events (Champions League, Premiership, T20 Cricket), signed memorabilia (including such luminaries as Pele, Seve Ballesteros, A P McCoy, Usain Bolt, Tiger Woods, Roger Federer, LeBron James and Neymar jnr.) and team memorabilia. And not to forget, clothing, signed CD’s and Wine and Whisky.
Save the Date
So, even though it is a long way off yet please make sure to update your calendar with the date, Friday 8th of September 2023. You will be able to enjoy a great day's golf, in fantastic surroundings, with a great bunch of people. You might even take home a rare Auction item. And best of all, you will be helping once more, to fund the great work carried out by Sophie’s Appeal.
#savethedate – Friday 8th September 2023 – Boundary Lakes Golf Club
Should you wish to donate directly to Sophie’s Appeal please visit the JustGiving page.
And for more information on the great work the charity does, please visit the site here, or see their Facebook page.
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