A PROUD golfer has raised more than £8000 for a children's hospice which cares for his teenage grand-daughter.

Paul Roberts from Eastbourne decided to hold a charity golf day at Willingdon Golf Club after visiting Chestnut Tree House, in Dover Lane, Arundel.

It costs £8,000 a day to run the hospice's care services - both in families' homes and at the Arundel base - so Paul decided to make that his target for the day. The final amount raised was £8,261.

He said: "I am extremely proud to have exceeded the £8,000 because that was a very important figure for me. I wanted to do my bit for the hospice.

"When I looked around the premises I was absolutely gobsmacked at the care and support they provide to children and their families. Chestnut Tree has been a godsend to me and my family."

Chestnut Tree children’s hospice provide cares for children with life-shortening conditions, and Paul's grand-daughter Tilly is one of those who benefits.

He said: "Tilly is now 15 and has severe disabilities and the hospice staff step in by providing carers and also sometimes Tilly is able to go over there for respite. This is really important for the whole family.

"The help that they provide gives my daughter, son in law and young grandson some respite from the 24 hour care that my grand-daughter needs.

"The golf day itself followed the two wettest days of the year, and the very real possibility that the course would be closed, so we were very relieved to have absolutely amazing weather.

"There were 100 people playing, with teams of four playing a 18-hole round of golf. Individual prizes were available on nine out of the 18 holes, one of which was won by 16-year-old Michael Quinn Jnr, holing a putt of a staggering 57 feet 6 inches – you would normally only expect a putt of this length from the world’s top professional golfers.

"There was a two course meal after the golf, followed by entertainment from fantastic young card magician from Eastbourne, Kris Singh.

"We had a total of 27 items for the auction which included a Manchester United football signed by the first team squad, a signed England rugby union shirt, two football shirts – one Manchester United and one England – both signed by Wayne Rooney, two tickets for a Justin Bieber concert, and a flight in a light aircraft over Kent.

"We have been truly amazed by everybody’s support and would like to pass on our sincere thanks to all involved."

Tracey Luker, Head of East Sussex Fundraising for Chestnut Tree, praised Paul for organising the event.

She said: "The total amount he has raised is staggering – enough to pay for more than one day of all of our care services, both in families’ own homes and at the hospice itself. What an amazing achievement."