Reigate Heath Golf Club raise an incredible £56,137 for Stripey Stork
Every year, the men’s and ladies’ captains at Reigate Heath Golf Club choose a charity
Every year, the men’s and ladies’ captains at Reigate Heath Golf Club choose a charity to support during their captaincy. This year, we were incredibly fortunate that David and Susie chose Stripey Stork.
From the very beginning, their enthusiasm and commitment shone through, but none of us could have predicted just how successful this partnership would become. Over the course of their captaincy year, they raised a truly remarkable £56,137 to support local children and families.
Here’s the story of how they made it happen.
David and Susie already knew about Stripey Stork through previous Ladies’ Captain Claire Brown, who chose us as the club’s charity partner in 2021/22. That earlier connection left a lasting impression.
In their announcement to club members last April, David and Susie explained why supporting a local charity mattered so much:
“Supporting a charity right on our doorstep means even more to our members because they can have the opportunity to get involved, see the impact firsthand and help spread the word about the vital work you do.”
When David and Susie first visited our Reigate warehouse, our van was parked outside unloading after a busy day of deliveries. It felt fitting somehow because that van quickly became the symbol of the partnership and the focus for the year’s fundraising efforts.
At the partnership launch event in April 2025, Stripey Stork CEO Nicola shared why the van matters so much:
The van is so much more than a vehicle. It’s become the heart of our operation, delivering donations to local families who have nowhere else to turn. With your help, we want to keep that van on the road for the whole year, making sure it can reach every family who needs us.
She also shared the story of a mum referred to us by Epsom & St Helier Hospital who arrived to give birth with nothing for her baby and a toddler who was sharing her bed. We pulled together everything they needed – a full newborn pack, a toddler bed, clothes and toys (items all donated by generous local families) – and delivered it the very next day. The hospital told us that without this support, the children might have been taken into care. Instead, they were able to make a fresh start as a family, with the right help around them.
These are the families we help. And these are the families we ask you to hold in mind when you’re fundraising.
2025 also marked an incredible milestone for Reigate Heath Golf Club as the club celebrated its 130th anniversary. From brilliant golf throughout the celebrations to a truly special Gala Dinner in June, it was a fitting tribute to the club’s rich history, traditions and strong sense of community.
As part of the Gala Dinner, members and guests took part in a silent auction featuring some fantastic prizes, including 36 holes and lunch at The Wisley. Susie and her husband Tim also generously donated two weeks’ stay at their home in Lymington, helping raise even more money in support of Stripey Stork.
Also in June, Reigate Heath got involved in our annual Stripes4Stripey campaign, our biggest community fundraising event of the year.
The day ended with the much-loved Stripes4Stripey Quiz Night, where Reigate Heath entered a team. While they may not have taken home the trophy, they more than made up for it with their generosity and enthusiasm.
August saw both captains take on extraordinary personal fundraising challenges.
David cycled an astonishing 1,000km from the world-famous St Andrews Links to Reigate Heath Golf Club in just over a week. Along the way he tackled steep climbs, unpredictable weather, breath-taking scenery and even a puncture or two, all while raising money for Stripey Stork.
Meanwhile, Susie completed an incredible golfing challenge, playing 90 holes in just five days across ten different golf clubs. From stunning fairways to the infamous Cardiac Hill, she embraced every moment of the challenge.
With both captains, and David’s cycling partner Keith, safely returned to base, celebrations at the club got underway with a Texas Scramble, BBQ and raffle, raising even more money for Stripey Stork.
You can read more about their challenges here: Reigate Heath Golf Club Captains’ Challenges
September brought Captain’s Day, a fantastic day of golf, fundraising and community spirit. Alongside the golf itself, members took part in an exciting auction featuring an incredible range of prizes, including a holiday stay, a Shark robot vacuum cleaner and vouchers for rounds of golf at some of the most prestigious courses in England.
But the standout item of the day was something truly special: a Masters flag brought back from Augusta by club member Phil, beautifully framed alongside photographs and a scorecard. Thanks to a contact of Stripey Stork’s Sarah, the flag was made even more valuable with the addition of Rory McIlroy’s signature – a signature only previous Masters winners are allowed to place in the centre of the flag.
Although the reserve price was set at £1,000, members were determined to keep the flag in the clubhouse. In true Reigate Heath style, 52 members each donated, raising £3,315 in total while ensuring the flag stayed at the club.
The festive season brought even more support from the club community.
Members joined us at our Christmas Quiz Night, and David arrived carrying two huge bags filled with brand-new toys for children supported by Stripey Stork.
Club members were also invited to donate new Lego sets beneath the clubhouse Christmas tree, a simple idea that brought in a wonderful collection of gifts for local children.
In February, the men’s charity dinner welcomed a packed room of members and guests for an evening of fundraising and entertainment.
The event was hosted by Jamie Weir from Sky Sports and featured guest speaker Harry Redknapp, whose stories and humour helped make it a memorable night while adding even more to the fundraising total.
And the ladies members supported Susie by joining her for fundraising Bridge Nights and Wine Tasting Evenings.
Alongside these headline events, fundraising was woven into club life all year long.
From the “Captains’ Cocktail”, where £1 from each sale was donated, to raffles, sweepstakes and even playful on-course “fines”, members embraced every opportunity to support Stripey Stork.
One particularly memorable fundraiser involved a very expensive bottle of whisky donated to the club, with David organising a special raffle just for the prize.
Every initiative, big or small, contributed to the extraordinary final total.
David and Susie rounded off their captaincy year with a celebration event at the club in March.
After a day of golf, members celebrated in style with live music from The Incinerators before David and Susie presented us with an incredible cheque for £56,137.
It was a truly emotional moment and a testament to the generosity, creativity and commitment shown by the entire Reigate Heath community throughout the year.
Reflecting on the year, David said:
We chose Stripey Stork as our charity partner for a number of reasons. Firstly, what they do is transformative and our contributions can make a real difference. Secondly, because they are local it means we are supporting our own community. And thirdly because we know they are a joy to work with, this being the second time Captains of Reigate Heath have chosen to support them.
They are always hugely enthusiastic and supportive in the planning and delivery stages of our fundraising activities, and they really engage with our members at the key events. There is no doubt that the success of our fundraising this year is down to a genuine partnership.
And Susie added:
It’s been a privilege to work with Nicola, Sarah and the team throughout the fundraising challenges and to help support the running costs of the van. It’s been great fun, hugely rewarding and is reflected in the incredible generosity and support shown by the club members and staff throughout the year.
To David, Susie and everyone at Reigate Heath Golf Club – thank you. Your outstanding support will make a lasting and profound difference to local children and families, and we are so grateful to have shared this journey with you.
Sarah, Corporate Fundraising Manger at Stripey Stork says:
Working with David and Susie over the past year has been an absolute joy from start to finish. Their energy, creativity and genuine passion for supporting local families has been incredible to see, and the support from everyone at Reigate Heath Golf Club has completely blown us away.
To raise an astonishing £56,137 is simply phenomenal. This funding will make a huge difference to Stripey Stork and will help keep our van on the road, delivering essential items to local children and families who need support the most. Every mile that van travels represents a family receiving practical help and hope at a difficult time, and that simply wouldn’t be possible without partnerships like this one.
We’re so grateful to David, Susie, the club members and staff for embracing Stripey Stork so wholeheartedly and making us feel part of the Reigate Heath community throughout the year.
If your club, company or community group is looking for a charity partner, we’d love to hear from you. Please get in touch with us at partnerships@stripeystork.org.uk.
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