Golfers in the swing for CPFT’s Head to Toe charity – and tee-off with an evening with TV’s Jeff Stelling
Golfers will be teeing off to raise money for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust’s charity Head to Toe throughout 2025.
Mark Smith has chosen to support Head to Toe during his year as men’s captain at Ely Golf Club after his daughter, Molly, was treated for an eating disorder at the Trust.
CPFT provides eating disorder services for young people and adults, and since her recovery, Molly has detailed her experiences in a successful BBC podcast.
In one of Mark’s first events, he’s organised for television presenter Jeff Stelling to talk about his 40-year broadcasting career at special evening taking place at the Maltings in Ely.
Mark (pictured above with Laura Semple from Head to Toe, Molly, ladies captain Sue Didlick, and Hannah Wysocki from Head to Toe) said: “As a family, we will never forget the help and support offered to Molly, and that is why I’ve chosen to support CPFT’s charity Head to Toe throughout my year as men’s captain.
"To get Jeff to give us his time for free to host an evening in which he will share many memories and laughs is a really great start to the fundraising.”
Molly was 14 when she was diagnosed with anorexia. Now 21, she has recovered and has gone on to graduate from university. She spoke openly about her treatment and interviewed CPFT clinicians in in her Radio 5 Live podcast, The Weigh Up.
Molly said: “I received a lot of help from the staff at CPFT at the time and I’ve since gone on to talk about it in my podcast. Anyone can suffer from an eating disorder – it doesn’t discriminate - but it’s also really important to share messages of hope.
“Head to Toe does so much to help patients and staff, and I’m really proud that my dad is supporting the charity during his time as men’s captain.”
Laura Semple, Community and Engagement Lead for Head to Toe, said: “We are delighted that Mark has chosen to support Head to Toe during his year as the men’s club captain. We are really grateful for his support – and to start off with Jeff Stelling talking about his life and times, is a fantastic way to begin.”
Jeff shot to national prominence when he hosted Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday from 1994 to 2003.
He also had two years as the host of Channel Four’s Countdown, taking over from Des O’Connor.
Born in Hartlepool – and one of the football club’s most famous fans – he began his career on BBC Radio Tees before moving to LBC in London followed by stints at BBC Radio 2, TV-AM and British Satellite Broadcasting before joining Sky in 1992.
The evening, which will include Jeff recounting some of the favourite moment of his career along with a question-and-answer session, a raffle and an auction, takes place on April 23.
Doors open at 6pm for a 7pm start with the bar open from 6-9.45pm. Tickets, which cost £30 each, are on sale now via captains@elygolf.co.uk.
CPFT, which employs more than 4,700 staff, provides community physical health services for older people and adults with long term conditions, mental health services, children community services in Peterborough, social care, and learning disability services. The Trust is also renowned for its research and development work.
Head to Toe uses donations to fund projects and initiatives that will provide further support to patients, carers, volunteers and members of staff.
ENDS
For more information contact:
Andy Burrows — Deputy Head of Communications