North Devon golf club launches fundraising drive for Fern Centre

Golfers at Libbaton Golf Club are teeing off a year of fundraising to help provide wellbeing support for people in North Devon affected by cancer.

The club will be raising money for the Royal Devon Hospitals Charity Fern Centre, which has been supporting one of its members following his cancer diagnosis.

Barry Hunt was given the news that he had prostate cancer shortly before Christmas 2024.

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“My father died of prostate cancer and I’d been having regular blood tests to monitor my PSA levels for around 10 years,” said Barry, from Dolton.

“I had no symptoms but knew that I was a prime candidate for prostate cancer and when my PSA rose to eight, my doctor said it was time to investigate.”

Barry started hormone treatment in January last year, followed by a month of daily radiotherapy in June.

Above: Barry and Janice Hunt at Libbaton Golf Club. Credit: Royal Devon Hospitals Charity

He added: “It was very positive and the staff at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital were fabulous. After all the treatment, I had a PSA test last September, which came out at 0.07.”

Barry joined the North Devon Prostate Cancer Support Group and found out about the free complementary therapies, counselling and support groups available at the Fern Centre, at North Devon District Hospital.

He said: “My wife Janice and I both started having weekly massage therapy at the Fern Centre and although we didn’t feel we needed any counselling, it was good to know it was available for us should we want it.

“It’s an amazing place and is there for anyone in North Devon affected by cancer, not just patients but close family members too.

“The staff there are so welcoming and understanding and they give you that reassurance when you’re going through something like cancer.

“We’re very lucky to have that support here in North Devon. There are quite a few club members who have either had cancer or are going through it, so I always let them know about the Fern Centre and all the support available to them,” added Barry.

Barry approached the Libbaton Golf Club charity committee about supporting the Fern Centre as one of its chosen charities in 2026, alongside longstanding charity the Children’s Holiday Foundation North Devon.

The committee agreed and members began fundraising for the two charities before Christmas, with events planned throughout the year, including a quiz night on May 23, a charity golf day on June 6, a sponsored dawn-to-dusk golf day on June 28 and a Big Breakfast on August 22. A bingo night on Easter Saturday has already raised nearly £1,000.#

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Kate Constable, Royal Devon Hospitals Charity community fundraiser, said: “We are thrilled Libbaton Golf Club has chosen to support the Fern Centre this year.

“The Fern Centre opened in 2020 following a £1.5million fundraising appeal by Royal Devon Hospitals Charity (then known as Over and Above) and the charity continues to raise the money needed to cover the centre’s annual running costs.

“Every pound the club raises will help the Fern Centre offer a whole range of free wraparound care and support to anyone in North Devon affected by cancer.”

For more information about the events planned, visit the Royal Devon Hospitals Charity website: www.royaldevoncharity.org.uk/event