FOUR budding Black Country golfers were able to raise more than £3,400 for two brain tumour charities after spending a whole day playing the sport.

Wordsley man Matt Whalley, and three of his friends, recently played four consecutive rounds at Patshull Park Golf Club to raise money for two charities which supported Matt’s sister-in-law, Linda Ballinger, after she was diagnosed with a brain tumour.

Matt was joined in his fundraising quest for Brain Tumour Support and The Brain Tumour Charity by Steve Troman and Mark Sinfield, of Halesowen, and Linda’s husband William.

The 39-year-old said: “Linda was diagnosed with a brain tumour seven years ago and she has just been through treatment.

“She volunteers for a group called Headway, based in Dudley, and they are affiliated to Brain Tumour Support and The Brain Tumour Charity hence us choosing them.

“Patshull Park Golf Club very kindly let us have the tee times for free and last year’s club captain Gary Mason, who is a very good friend of William's, donated £1,000 to us from the charity pot he raised.

“After we finished we were very tired and sore, but elated to have completed it.

“I'm not the fittest lad in the world and I was genuinely worried that I might not complete it and let down everyone who sponsored me as well as the three other guys. But we pulled together and kept each other chipper and got through it.

“I am immensity proud of what we did and what we raised and I am particularly proud that I got through it. Mind you, getting out of bed the following morning took some serious willpower not to just stay there.

“We all said how much fun it was and we've already started planning next year’s charity event that's going to be a bit different.”

To make a donation to the charities visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SomeoneSpecial/LindaBallinger