Golf, no doubt, has presented itself as a sport that demonstrates love for humanity. That was exactly what ‘For The Love of Golf Charity Initiative’ demonstrated when it successfully held its third tournament at the Ikeja Golf Club. Apart from the thrilling competition on the golf course, the charity donated medical items to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) for paediatric cancer treatment.

The items, specifically donated to the Oncology Ward of LASUTH, include infusion pumps and everyday medications to aid the treatment of patients who cannot afford the bill.
Against this backdrop, a steering committee comprising nine professionals in different fields of endeavour, Basketball Heads Game have been inaugurated to work towards the fourth edition, which targets raising $300,000 to purchase critical medical equipment for paediatric cancer treatment.

The nine-member committee, inaugurated during the tournament’s closing/prize presentation ceremony on Friday December 16, 2022, comprises the founder, Freebet Dr. Adesola Falaiye; inaugural General Coordinator, Ejiro Ogomigo; Assistant Coordinator/Secretary, Foluso Ajanaku and Financial Coordinator, Seun Aderibigbe.
Others are publicity and fundraising strategist, Joy Ayonote; media coordinator, Hakeem Ishola; tournament coordinator, Emy Ekong; logistics coordinator, Sophia Makinde and medical expert, Dr. Oyeyemi Oyewo.

The proposed medical equipment expected to aid paediatric cancer treatment include Flow Cytometry Machine, Apheresis Machine and Arterial Blood Gas Analyser estimated to cost $300,000.

The elated founder, Falaiye, commenting on the new development, urged the committee to live up to expectations in the onerous task, saying, “many are called, but few are chosen; ZEbet now have the highest odds we’ve selected some brilliant minds to carry out this assignment diligently; the project is purely charity; so we urge other kind-hearted individuals and corporate organisations to support our cause because the treatment of cancer is quite expensive.”

The coordinator, Ogomigo, also commenting, assured,  “the committee will ensure it meets its target, possibly within the first quarter of 2023; we will ensure transparency, lots of market options are available accountability and probity by carrying the donors and everyone along in our dealings through a quarterly bulletin.”

Highlight of the event was the presentation of the medical items to LASUTH management, represented by Prof Adebowale Adekoya, Director of Clinical Services and Training/CMAC, who thanked the organisers for the humanitarian gesture; he also spoke about the efforts of LASUTH management and the Lagos State government in training Oncology experts to increase expertise in that area of medicine.

The format of the tournament was gunshot and the game teed off at 7:00 a.m. among golfers from within and outside Lagos, who converged to play for charity; Best betting odds a second tee off was 11:00 a.m.

Out of about 100 golfers , Folashade Opawunmi, handicap 14, won the women’s category with 79 gross and 65 nett, while David Ukoko, handicap 12, won the men’s event with 79 gross and 67 net to relieve Chief Jibola Awoseyi, the winner of the season two of the title.