Keith Golf Club member Eric Sharp (70) raises more than £3400 with walk round course's 18th green
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A LOYAL member has raised more than £3000 for Keith Golf Club by walking a marathon round the course’s 18th green.
Eric Sharp (70), who lives in the town, walked about 60 laps of the course’s final green each day from Monday to Friday last week.
The total distance walked was 26.2 miles and the total amount raised for the club was £3400 on Friday afternoon.
Donations are still coming in and the final total is expected to be nearer to the £4000 mark.
Eric said: “I’m more than happy. We have raised £3400 and this far exceeds what we were hoping for.
“The weather on the Wednesday and Thursday was pretty grim but that’s the usual for Keith – I was battling through hailstones one day.
“It was quite cold on Thursday, too, but I didn’t feel it because I was trying to keep a steady pace to keep the heat up.
“There was a few folk walking a few laps and the support was great.”
The support was much appreciated by Eric – with lots of other groups fundraising due to financial worries during the coronavirus pandemic.
He added: “Everybody is in the same game trying to get a bit of fundraising.
“Without any fundraising it’s difficult to get anything in and I’m sure I’m speaking for every golf club when I say that.
“The idea all came from watching Captain Tom on TV and I think the fact I was seen to be doing something rather than holding my hand out helped. Plus the fact that I’m born and bred in Keith and a lot of folk know me!
“The 18th green was an ideal location too, next to the clubhouse. There was a collection box at the table at the clubhouse, with sanitizer.
“Folk would come, drop envelopes into the box, give me a wee cheer and away they went again.”
However, one little fan did far more than just drop in with cash and head off again.
“This little lad Jake Taylor, he was maybe only seven years old, was round every single day with a sweetie for me and to walk a couple of laps,” Eric added.
“Even on the bad days with the weather. He always had a packet of sweeties – and he made a banner too. Jake walked the last lap with me and was a great help.”
Alongside Jake, a socially-distanced group gathered to cheer Eric over the finishing line on Friday.
His wife Sheila and son Nathan were both in attendance – along with his grand-daughter Darci who walked a couple of laps too.
Former Keith player and Scotland captain Colin Hendry and former Keith striker Charlie Rowley were also down and took part in a couple of laps.
While the marathon effort has left Eric “feeling good”, he insists it’s the last time he’ll be doing something similar.
“That was the first time I’ve done anything like that and may I say it could possibly be the last,” he added.
“It has given me a taste for it – but it’s a bad taste!
“I don’t think I’ll be persuaded to do it again. Maybe a half marathon.”
Donations are still being welcomed and can be made in a sealed envelope and sent to the Keith Golf Club or handed in to Eric at 107A Land Street.
Eric’s surname is spelt Sharp and not Sharpe as written in last week’s paper. Apologies to Eric for the mistake.