GOLFING ladies will be trying to complete 72 holes within one day to raise £9,999 in emergency support for a cancer charity.

The friends are all members of the Langdon Hills Golf Club, where they will be doing the challenge, and live in Basildon and Wickford.

The challenge will see the group walk around 24 miles from hole to hole, whilst battling the heat and the tiredness.

The women, who are all aged in their 50s and 60s, are hoping to raise £9,999 for Macmillan Cancer Support, who provide specialist care to those with cancer in the UK.

Competitor Liz Reid said the effort would be “especially poignant” as the group lost two friends to cancer in recent months.

She said: “Everyone has been touched by cancer, that indiscriminate, vicious, wicked disease that is part of our lives. We are all affected by it in some way.

“We have, as a group, been affected by various forms of cancer.

“In recent years we have had ladies who have fought and won their battles; but we have also lost two dear friends and it is for them that we are accepting Macmillan’s challenge.

“72 holes in one day is tough– it is 24 miles of walking whilst being challenged by the course as well as the elements.

“We will have an amazing team of superheroes who will be with us for the day with food, water and encouragement 100per cent of the way.”

Macmillan also looks at the social, emotional and practical impact cancer can have, and campaigns for better cancer care regardless of which they have.

The group is aiming for the specific £9,999 total to reflect that nine of them are taking part in the challenge.

They have all been playing golf for around five to ten years, and are trying to make their situation and loss as positive as possible.

Liz added: “We are nine ladies who play golf. We’re no spring chickens, but we are determined and we are up for the challenge

“We are doing this for all the people who currently need help or will need it in the future.

“We go on holiday every year, we have about 20 of us going to Turkey in June. It’s going to be very poignant as our friends should have been with us, but sadly they lost their battle.

“The challenge will be difficult, but we’re trying to make a very sad situation into something productive, challenging and happy.

“Every donation, no matter how small, is vital to continue the amazing work which Macmillan Cancer Care does.”

Friends Liz Reid, Veronica Allen, Alison Payne, Jan Smith, Gill Ashley, Jill McGrath, Karen Simson, Andrea Ranson and Lorraine Partner will take on the Macmillan 72-hole Golf Challenge in July.

To donate, visit https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/Gems12and3.