Originally chair of the organising committee, Bob has helped to run a popular golfing event with thriller writer Peter James for the past eight years which has raised more than £85,000 to date. He received an outstanding achievement award in recognition of his work from the best-selling author himself at the eighth annual tournament at Haywards Heath Golf Club on Friday, 2 September. The certificate from Action Medical Research is the highest recognition given to its volunteers and is signed by the charity’s patron, HRH The Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh. “In my opinion, the charity golf day’s success has all been as a result of the Haywards Heath and Lindfield Committee’s input. Without their help the day would not have happened - and of course Peter James’s input as well,” says Bob. “And more importantly this year there was a hole-in-one prize which went to Neil Sawyers!” Since Action Medical Research began in 1952, it has spent more than £115 million helping support some amazing medical breakthroughs that have helped save thousands of children’s lives and changed many more. Some of the work it previously supported is now commonplace in medical care, such as the vaccines for polio and rubella, the use of ultrasound scanning in pregnancy and the importance of taking folic acid before and during pregnancy to prevent spina bifida. It is currently funding research into premature birth, meningitis, Down syndrome and epilepsy, as well as some rare and distressing conditions that severely affect children. Paula Ray, the charity’s Community Fundraising Manager for London and the south east, said: “We’re very proud to present Bob with this special award in grateful recognition of his exceptional commitment and dedication to Action Medical Research over so many years. “He has always been a great support to our team and it’s thanks to the extraordinary hard work of volunteers like Bob that the charity has been able to establish such a long and distinguished track record of funding life-changing research to help babies and children. We hope people will continue to support their local fundraisers so we can do even more in the future.” If you are interested in helping to raise funds for Action Medical Research, please email Paula Ray at pray@action.org.uk or call 07709 534366. For further information visit https://www.action.org.uk/support-us/volunteering Contributed by Action Medical Research Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live. Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on. 1) Make our website your homepage at www.midsussextimes.co.uk 2) Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/midsussextimes 3) Follow us on Twitter @midsussex_times 4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here. And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out! The Mid Sussex Times - always the first with your local news. Be part of it.