PGA Professional Luke Willett, ‘The Iron Golfer’, is all set to support national charity the Golf Foundation in his unique ‘PEAK Potential Challenge’ – the three highest Cumbrian peaks and 54 holes in one day, to get young people talking about health and fitness through golf.
After training with 11 marathons in 11 weeks, Luke is ready to tackle the Lake District’s famed mountains Scafell Pike, Helvellyn and Skiddaw, and also taking on three great golfing challenges of Windermere, Keswick and Cockermouth Golf Clubs, all in 24 hours, on Sunday, August 23 (changed from August 22 because of adverse weather).
Luke is setting out on the adventure to raise funds for children’s charity the Golf Foundation, while also demonstrating the benefits of health and fitness, and encouraging positive thinking to reach potential. He thinks this could be a particularly valuable message for young people at this difficult time.
Luke will climb the three great Lakeland mountains, starting in the night at 2am on Sunday on Scafell, before looking to shoot rounds of par at three picturesque courses, finishing with his final putt on the 18th green at Cockermouth Golf Club in the late evening. His 24 hour adventure will involve thousands of metres of climbing in difficult conditions, and rough terrain.
It will effectively be Luke’s 12th marathon in 12 weeks for this project.
All donations Luke receives will help the Golf Foundation provide life changing opportunities to young people using the power of golf, as the charity helps more youngsters from all backgrounds to enjoy the game.
Following his latest epic golfing adventure, Luke, an experienced PGA Professional Coach, is hoping to take his inspiring story into schools, discussing his training and spirit of adventure with pupils, before offering some golf coaching to encourage them to try the game.
Luke Willett says: “I want to do this hugely difficult but enjoyable challenge to demonstrate to young people that by being adventurous, while really working hard, you can achieve incredible things. My life in golf has given me great confidence and belief in myself and I wanted to share some of this positivity, firing the imagination at the same time. I think this is particularly relevant now at this really challenging time for young people, up and down the country.
“For those who would like to support my adventure with a donation, you will be helping the Golf Foundation to inspire many kids from all backgrounds to love golf and acquire life skills that will help them to cope with this changing world around us. Golf should be a joy for everyone and it has great mental and physical health benefits. It’s a beautiful game.”
If you would like to donate to Luke’s JustGiving page and support the Golf Foundation, go to https://bit.ly/2lFLQbS
Last year, Luke raised funds for the Golf Foundation via #TheGreatBritishOpenChallenge, when he cycled 830 miles around much of the UK to play all 14 of The Open’s historic golf courses, carrying his four golf clubs on his bike in all weathers, in just 10 days.
Luke warmed up for his latest test by running 11 marathons in 11 weeks. A week ago he completed an incredible ‘speed-of-light’ ‘3 W’s Challenge’, covering the 54 holes of Worplesdon GC, West Hill GC and Woking GC in just 2 hours 47 minutes (including running between courses – no transport), shooting rounds of 75, 81 and 77 respectively.
Golf Foundation Head of Fundraising Vanessa Bell said: “Luke is really putting himself on the line to promote our love of golf and this can be a brilliant piece of fundraising for the Golf Foundation.All the funds he raises for this charity will help us to continue to provide life changing opportunities to young people using the power of golf. We think this is a cause worth supporting.”