The annual Cardiff 36 Circle Charity Golf Day was held at Llanishen Golf Club on 12 July 2018. The golf itself attracted 11 teams who played under a fine Cardiff summer sun. The eventual winners of the Ladies Competition were Mary Lonergan, Janine Lowthe, Ceri Good and Sue Taylor with 91 points (a record) whilst the Men’s competition was won by Carl French , Y C Lim, Gwilym Bowen and Andy Burton with 97 points (again a record) both based upon best two to score.
In the evening over 70 golfers, other Catenians and guests sat down to the traditional post-competition dinner at the Golf Club. The event was organised to support Cardiff 36 Circle President Bernard Hayward’s Charity, The Jacob Abraham Foundation, which works in the area of young person suicide and approximately £1,600 was raised thanks to the support of those attending and match funding from Barclays Bank.
On the following Monday, Nicola Abraham and Sarah Aitken were guests of Cardiff Circle at the dinner after the monthly Circle Meeting. Nicola, set up the foundation after she lost her 24 year old son, Jacob, to suicide in 2015. Nicola explained that she had found that there was nothing available by way of support for families who find themselves in this heartbreaking situation. The charity, which gets no support form public funds, has expanded in a very short space of time and is now involved in:
- Intervention to prevent potential suicides actually happening. To date they believe that they have pulled back about 35 young lives from the bring of suicide.
- Immediate support for people affected by suicide including a comfort pack, advice and information. They also run monthly support groups or 1:1 home visits.
- Suicide Intervention & Prevention Training for adults and young people to recognise the initial signs in young people which can lead to them taking their own lives and to give people the confidence to intervene when they recognise the signs.
Nicola and Sarah run the Foundation and Cardiff President, Bernard Hayward, was delighted to present them with a cheque from the proceeds of the Golf Day. It is hoped to increase the overall amount donated to the Foundation by the end of the current Presidential year in March 2019.
Sarah Aitken & Nicola Abraham with Cardiff President, Bernard Hayward.
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