A team of 16 golfers will complete 100 holes of golf in one day in honour of their dear friend.
Andrew Dunn and pals are raising funds for Orchard OCD in memory of Oliver Middlemiss who lived with the debilitating illness Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
Oliver, who previously worked at Dumfries House as an estates manager, tragically took his own life in July 2019 following his battle with OCD.
OCD is a mental health condition in which a person has uncontrollable, reoccurring and intrusive obsessive thoughts and/ or compulsive behaviours. These symptoms can interfere with all aspects of life.
Now Oliver’s cousin Andrew, friends and family will take to Troon golf courses tomorrow - starting at first light at around 3am and ending as the sun goes down at 10pm - for the golf fundraiser, which is the equivalent of a marathon in distance with the added challenge of playing golf.
The team consists of; Andrew Dunn, Peter Middlemiss, Stewart Macmillan, Alan Young, Joseph Dunn, Richard Dunn, Richard Gadge Stewart, Paul Adams, James King, Alex Loudon, Chris Mann, Peter Young, Chris Antoniou, Rhu Whyte, Graeme Goldspink and Peter Diciacca.
The group will be playing across Troon golf courses including Royal Troon, the Portland course, and the three Troon public links courses- the Darley, Lochgreen and Fullarton.
Cousin Andrew said: “Oliver unfortunately took his own life after struggling with OCD.
“I don’t think people understand the full impact that OCD can have on you. I think its broad-brushed around that people are organised and compulsive about keeping everything in a certain place but actual OCD is really debilitating as a mental health illness.
“I feel OCD is glamorised as being totally ordered and everything’s got to be perfect. It’s always put out there that sportspeople or celebs are slightly OCD.
“I probably fell into that trap myself but getting to understand Olly and what he was going through, you realise how debilitating how OCD can be.
“I have bi-polar and we exchanged notes, sharing about our challenges and how to deal with it, through the more difficult times.”
Andy called on family and Oliver’s friends - of which eight of them are travelling up from England to take part - to help raise money for Orchard OCD in Oliver’s name - and have already smashed their ambitious £15,000 total, coining in almost £17,000.
Orchard OCD are driving the quest for new and better treatments for patients suffering from OCD.
Andy said: “With Oliver’s death I thought this was a good chance to try fundraise for a charity of his brothers’ and his mum and dad’s choice.
“He loved sports generally but was a keen golfer and pretty good at it as well.
“It will be tough but enjoyable I’m sure.”
A medical research award was set up in Oliver’s name - The Oliver Middlemiss OCD Award - to help better understand the disease, improve clinical knowledge of it and to ultimately reduce the suffering of those in the future who have a diagnosis of OCD.
You can donate the golf fundraiser at: https://www.justgiving.com/page/100holesgolfchallenge
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