Big-hearted golfers and local businesses have raised £1,000 for the British Heart Foundation recently, supporting and contesting the Milton Keynes Lightning Charity Golf Day, sponsored by Lok ‘n’ Store.

A total of 30 supporters, friends and players of MK Lightning – the English Premier League’s most successful ice hockey team – enjoyed a round of golf at the Three Locks Golf Club at Stoke Hammond on Wednesday 9 November, raising vital funds for the British Heart Foundation to continue their pioneering research into the causes and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

A wide range of MK businesses – including Saracen Datastore, FSG Energy, B2 Promo Design, Wayside Van Centre (MK), NHBC, MK Diagnostics, MK Valeting, TRAKA and EMW Law – kindly sponsored individual holes or provided prizes at the day, which was all part of a month of activities by the Lightning to raise funds for one of Britain’s best-loved charities. Lightning’s player-coach Nick Poole took part in the event, as did forward Michael ‘Muzzy’ Wales, defenceman Lewis Christie, and general manager Vito Rausa.

The British Heart Foundation is the latest charity to be chosen by the MK Lightning for the month of November to dedicate fund-raising efforts to – following in the footsteps of Willen Hospice, Breast Cancer Care, Help For Heroes and Prostate Cancer Research.  During November 2010, the Lightning and their generous supporters raised some £3,000 for Willen Hospice, to help them continue their invaluable work providing palliative care and support for families of those with life-limiting illnesses.

“We were only too happy to organise the event, as part of a full month of activities supporting the British Heart Foundation”, said Dave Bunyan, Chairman of the MK Lightning Supporters’ Club, which is co-ordinating the club’s fund-raising efforts.  “Lok ‘n’ Store very generously supported the whole event, and many other local businesses also lent their support, which we’d really like to thank them all for.  Combined with the donations from everyone who took part, and the time given up by the Lightning players who also participated, we’re thrilled to have raised £1,000 for such a good cause.  We’ll continue to raise money at Lightning home games for the rest of November and also at one or two other events, so it’d be great if supporters could help us with that and we can give the British Heart Foundation a really healthy sum at the end of the month!”

The Lightning’s remaining home fixtures during their fund-raising month are against Telford on Sunday 20th November, and against local rivals Peterborough Phantoms on Saturday 26th November.