This year’s Mike Henthorn Cruse Memorial Golf Day raised a welcome £11,500 to boost funds for an island charity.

Held at Douglas golf club, the event was supported for the ninth year in succession by online gaming company Celton Manx, and was held in aid of Cruse Bereavement Care Isle of Man which, this year, celebrates its 10th anniversary.

The event attracted 23 teams, with Alex Holt, Roger Raatgever, Mark Reynolds and Jonathan Wild emerging the winning team with a score of 52.5 net.

Ahead of the prize presentations Cruse Bereavement Care Isle of Man chairman Sam Skelton said that the ’Covid challenge’ had led to a depletion of the charity’s income, but that thanks to long-term community support, notably that of Celton Manx, and part funding from government, Cruse had emerged ’relatively unscathed’.

Turning to Cruse’s 10th anniversary, Mr Skelton spoke of the charity’s ’small beginnings’ and how the first golf day, an initiative driven by the late Mike Henthorn - an ardent supporter of Cruse and a firm believer that ’anything was possible’ - saw 14 teams take part and £2,000 raised.

The ’Henthorn link’ remained strong, said Mr Skelton, with Mike Henthorn’s son, Mark, serving as a Cruse volunteer and his widow, Janet, attending the golf days and presenting the prizes.

In closing, Mr Skelton extended his sincere thanks on behalf of Cruse Bereavement Care Isle of Man to Bill Mummery of Celton Manx for the company’s continued support.

In response, Celton Manx executive director Bill Mummery said: ’The third sector has had to face epic struggles this year to manage the impact of Covid-19 on their finances and on their service provision.

’Enormous credit is therefore due to the small but dedicated team at Cruse for the outstanding care they’ve continued to provide under exceptional circumstances to people - young and old alike - devastated by loss and grief.

’For Celton Manx it’s always a genuine pleasure and privilege to support the Cruse golf day. This year, however, our support is not only recognition of the transformational work Cruse is doing in the community, but also our way of paying tribute to the team for meeting their clients’ wellbeing and emotional needs at a time of public health crisis with such undimmed dedication and compassion.

’I am therefore pleased to confirm that Celton Manx will be supporting the 2021 Mike Henthorn Cruse Memorial Golf Day.’