Golf event held in memory of baby Jack

The players who took part in the ninth annual Jack Blunsdon memorial golf trophy, organised by his dad Dave Blunsdon.

The event, held to remember one-year-old Jack from Sompting, saw around £1,600 collected for Chestnut Tree House children’s hospice and the Myotubular Trust.

In total, 28 golfers took part in the day at Rookwood Golf Club in Horsham last month, playing in a format called Texas Scramble.

Jack’s dad Dave Blunsdon, 49, of Berrydale Drive, said: “The numbers were a little down on previous years, but it was still good to see all the people who turned out to support the event.

“We’re hoping next year more people will be able to make it, as this year we changed the date and I think a few people were on holiday.

“As always, I’d like to thank everyone who supported us on the day, my sister Hayley Ball for her help and the Empire Club in Lancing for sponsoring the trophies and providing live entertainment in the evening.”

The trophy was won by Dave’s team, Team Jack, named in memory of his son.

The team also included Sean McKeown, Chris Scarborough, Luke Collins, and finished nine under par.

The longest drive was won by Dean Coombs, and the two nearest the pins on the par 3s by Ashley Duffer and Dave Blunsdon.

Jack was born with a very rare genetic condition called Myotubular Myopathy which only affect boys, as it is X chromosome linked.

He died in January, 2007, on his first birthday.

Dave said the couple did not know he had the condition until after he was born, but it was immediately obvious that something was wrong.

It took doctors six months to confirm the diagnosis – as myotubular myopathy is so rare and only affects one in 900,000 babies

– but Dave said they always knew they would only have a short time with Jack.

Dave and his partner Karen Vardy, Jack’s mum, have held the golf tournament every year since in his memory, with all the money raised going to charity.

It is split between Chestnut Tree House children’s hospice in Poling, near Arundel, and the Myotubular Trust, the charity which is funding the genetic research into the condition.

The event raised £580 on the day with Boots, where Karen works, and Barclays, where Dave’s sister Hayley works, both cash matching £500 each.

For more information about the condition, or to give money to the cause, visit www.myotubulartrust.com

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