Golf is a game that provides people with a lot of different things – escapism, a challenge; a chance to meet and compete with friends and colleagues, exercise, fresh air…the list could go on.

The beautiful game is currently providing David Harrison from Ealing, West London with hope as he fights against prostate cancer. David also visits Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centre in London, the charity that Ryder Cup Captain Colin Montgomerie is supporting through the Elizabeth Montgomerie Foundation, with current projects to build Maggie’s Centres in Lanarkshire and Aberdeen.

Ahead of one of the most important weekends of his life, Colin took the time to visit David at Maggie’s London with a replica of the Ryder Cup to talk about golf, Maggie’s and living with cancer.

David, age 58, said: “It was a real honour to meet Colin, a golfer I greatly admire and for him to take the time to come and visit Maggie’s London and speak to me is a measure of him as a man. Like most people in the UK, Colin has been affected by cancer and lost his Mum when he was younger. For him to set up a foundation in her name and to raise funds to build new Maggie’s Centres is something that Colin should get a lot of credit for.”

David continued: “Being able to visit Maggie’s has been life changing for me. I hope that in years to come that anyone living with cancer in the UK will have access to the variety of support that Maggie’s has to offer and with Colin’s help more people will get the help they need from Maggie’s.”

Colin Montgomerie, set to captain Europe at the Ryder Cup this weekend said: “It was a real pleasure to meet David and his wife and to learn more about the support they receive from Maggie’s London centre. It was also good to hear how golf has been an escape for David when he has had the strength to play. I am always humbled by the people I meet when I visit Maggie’s Centres – David was no exception. Maggie’s are helping people like David across the UK but they want to help more people to live with, through and beyond cancer and I am excited to be playing my part in making that a reality through the Elizabeth Montgomerie Foundation.”

David, age 58, said: “I was diagnosed with prostate cancer four years ago but was told that I had probably had this for another 5 years before that. Up until diagnosis I was a keen squash player and golfer but because of the diagnosis where it had spread into my hip, I decided to give up squash which is hard on the joints.”

David continued: “Having been a keen sportsman all my life and with my body used to being exercised regularly, it was important both physically and mentally for me to continue playing golf. I questioned my GP and consultant as to whether this was a good idea and the feedback was that moderate exercise would be good for me and so this has proved. There were some physical changes as a result of initial radiotherapy and hormone therapy. Radiotherapy to bones seems to make them stronger and reduce pain so exercising had the benefit of maintaining muscle strength which tends to reduce with the hormone therapy. In addition hormone therapy makes one less strong both physically and emotionally.”

Highlighting how golf has helped him on his journey with cancer, David said: “Golf has had the major benefit of proving to me that achievements of the past do not necessarily have to be given up. It raises ones confidence, gives you a boost and makes you feel good. It is so easy to give up if diagnosed with cancer but life goes on and I have found it best to continue doing all the things with I enjoy and give satisfaction which includes golf.”

As with all golfers, there have been highs and lows: “There have been real high points during my golf and cancer journey. In 2009 just after starting chemotherapy I played in a Society Spring meeting at Huntercombe I had my lowest gross round ever and won the event and silver cup. Similarly at Effingham in autumn 2008, one exceptional round won Lloyd's Register's Committee Cup and some prizes. Both these resulted in handicap reductions and some difficulty in home club medal competitions!”

The treatment David is receiving is helping him with his fight against cancer, but he has noticed it having an effect on his game: “There have been some lower points recently as I have lost weight and muscle and am having difficulty with distance off the tees. Now I am on a new hormone regime which is tackling the cancer quite well but reducing my energy levels. Various pain killing drugs may also be having an effect but at least I am still enjoying some of the great places which golf takes you too. This year I have played at some great golf courses including Hun Stanton, Bran caster, Sheringham, Porters Park and New Zealand.”

Summing up how a diagnosis of cancer has caused him to re-evaluate his love of the game and how it is helping him David said: “Golf is good for you as it provides gentle exercise in lovely surroundings usually with good company. It boosts your morale at a time when it is easy to give up and so for the sports minded cancer sufferer can be an invaluable additional form of therapy.”

Bernie Byrne, Centre Head for Maggie’s London, said: “It can be of huge benefit to someone living with cancer to have something enjoyable to focus on, something that allows them to be ‘normal’ and something that allows them to forget, when possible, about their treatment and the impact a diagnosis of cancer has had on them. The founder of Maggie’s Centres said ‘it is important not to lose the joy of living in the fear of dying’ and it is fantastic to hear how much joy and hope that David receives from playing golf. I’d also like to take the opportunity on behalf of everyone at Maggie’s to wish Colin and his team all the best for the Ryder Cup at the weekend.”


ENDS

For further information on Maggie’s Centres please contact Murray Easton on 0141-341-5681 or 07825 312791 or email murray.easton@maggiescentres.org

For further information on the Elizabeth Montgomerie Foundation please contact Lucinda Rivers at lucinda@elizabethmontgomerie.org

Notes to Editor:

• There are currently six Maggie’s Centres across the UK – Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Highlands, Fife and London. There are three Interim Centres – Oxford, South West Wales and Lanarkshire

• Centres are planned for the sites of the three interim Centres and in Cotswolds, North East, Nottingham, a second centre in Glasgow and one in Aberdeen

• Colin Montgomerie, through the Elizabeth Montgomerie Foundation set up in memory of his Mum, is raising funds to build the Lanarkshire and Aberdeen Centres www.elizabethmontgomerie.org

• This summer Maggie’s set up the very first Monty’s Monthly Medals, with golf clubs across the UK raising funds for Maggie’s www.maggiescentres.org/monty

• Maggie’s is in negotiations with NHS sites across the UK regarding their next phase of development, with plans to have 20 centres open or under development by 2016

• Maggie’s programme of support empowers people to live with, through and beyond cancer

• Maggie’s Centres are free to visit, no appointment is necessary and they are for anyone affected by any type of cancer as well as their family and friends

• Some of the worlds leading architects have designed Maggie’s Centres, including Frank Gehry, Zaha Hadid, Richard Rogers and Rem Koolhaus

• In 2009 Maggie’s Centres across the UK were visited by 78,863 people affected by cancer

• Maggie’s model of support has been so successful that it is being taken forward in Hong Kong, Barcelona and Scandinavia