Indy Smith-Peter: Keeping Her Sister's Memory Alive Through Golf

For the past five years, Indy Smith-Peter has been a young ambassador for the Elexis Brown Golf Foundation, a charity founded in memory of her older sister Elexis, who she lost in 2021. This year, that work was recognised with the Young Spirit of Golf Award at the President's Awards.

"I honestly never expected to receive such an amazing award for being an ambassador for the Elexis Brown Golf Foundation for the last five years," Indy says. "I never do anything with the foundation expecting something back. I do it because it means so much to me, and because it is all in memory of my late sister, Elexis."

Her involvement runs through nearly every part of how the foundation raises money and awareness. At events, Indy helps collect raffle prizes and calls out winning numbers, supports the auctions, and promotes the charity at her school and at her own club, Cleethorpes Golf Club. She's a regular fixture at the foundation's "Beat the Pro" challenge, encouraging competitors to dress up to raise extra money and keep the atmosphere fun. She also sits in on meetings with her dad and the trustees, discussing sponsorship ideas, which has given her an understanding of fundraising that goes well beyond the events themselves. "It's not just about the events, it's also about planning, building relationships and coming up with new ideas to support the charity."

The results speak for themselves. Over five years, the Elexis Brown Golf Foundation has raised nearly £70,000 and now supports 25 children on its programme, including many with ADHD and autism, as well as children from disadvantaged backgrounds. "We are following the dream that my sister Elexis always believed in, that golf should be open to everyone, no matter who they are or where they come from."