The Tour Players Foundation, the charitable foundation of The European Tour and its Members, has awarded a grant of £25,000 to Sebastian’s Action Trust, the designated local charity for this year’s BMW PGA Championship.
The Sunninghill-based charity was formed in the memory of Sebastian Gates, who attended the same school as several of the Tour’s Surrey-based Members’ children including South African Retief Goosen and England’s Anthony Wall, who were present at the cheque presentation.
The cheque was received on behalf of the Trust by Sebastian’s mother Jane Gates, who has continued the fundraising which was started by her son before his untimely death from a rare form of childhood cancer, on Christmas Eve 2003.
Sebastian’s vision was to create a holiday respite house for children with life-threatening or life-limiting illnesses, and that vision is close to becoming a reality with work due to start next month on The Bluebells, two four-bedroom, self-catering apartments in the picturesque Hampshire village of North Waltham.
Sebastian’s Action Trust made a grant application – which was endorsed by Goosen and Wall – to the Tour Players Foundation, who awarded the Trust the £25,000 grant to cover the cost of the sensory room in the house.
Mark Roe, Chairman of the Tour Players Foundation, said: “Retief and Anthony both spoke glowingly of the great work Sebastian’s Action Trust does, so we were delighted to award the Trust a grant which will make a real difference to the quality of life of the children who use it. The Trust is a very worthy cause, and we hope to raise even more funds throughout the course of the week.”
Jane Gates, Sebastian’s mother said: “We are delighted to have been selected by the Tour Players Foundation as their nominated local charity for the BMW PGA Championship. The award of £25,000 is incredibly generous and will enable us to equip the sensory room in our holiday respite house. The room will be particularly beneficial to those with sensory impairment and will be a much valued resource in this unique facility.
“Creating a holiday house that can be used by seriously ill children with their families is our primary focus. We are so pleased that in less than a year countless families will benefit from crisis breaks at The Bluebells, giving them precious time together in a purpose-built house with plenty of amenities on site.”
A sensory room is a room which helps those for whom sight, hearing and touch may be impaired. Common features include soft cushioned flooring, multi-coloured light tubes, textured surfaces and a sophisticated sound system. The room will also be used as a place where massage and other complementary therapies can be enjoyed.
