GOLFER Paul Mabbutt is one of the biggest swingers in town.
For the captain of Baxenden Golf Club has raised a magnificent four-figure sum in aid of the Jessica Spibey Trust Fund … by playing 11 rounds of golf, plus an extra hole, in 11 hours.
By the time he had finished his gruelling golf-athon the 42-year-old, of Ashworth Street, Baxenden, had clocked up 19 miles on the fairways.
Early bird Paul teed off at 6am and played right through until 5pm - with just half-an-hour break for refreshments.
He said: "Originally I was going to do 72 holes and then changed my mind to do 90. I eventually settled on 100."
He decided to act after hearing about fellow Baxenden resident Jessica, five, who has cerebral palsy and needs round-the-clock care and regular physiotherapy. She lives in Sherbourne Road with her devoted parents, Tony and Sam.
Tony was one of three caddies who helped drag Paul's clubs around the course. The other two were fellow-golfers Ken Hall and Maurice Warburton.
Paul, who has been playing golf for 21 years and has a handicap of five, continued: "I always wanted to do something special when I became captain.
"The weather was nice on the day and my wife Annette followed me around to give me support. I was a bit tired afterwards and my feet were a little sore. I went back to the clubhouse and had a couple of pints of Guinness to cool down."
The trust fund has been set up by Jessica's grandmother, Phyllis, in memory of her late husband Brian Nuttall.
Cash has already been donated by Holland's Pies, which raised £2,500 earlier this year, and from Donna Beardmore, who raised £2,000 by running in the London Marathon in April.
Paul is appealing for further cash to boost the fund so if you want to dig deep send cheques to the Jessica Spibey Trust Fund, c/o Paul Mabbutt to Baxenden Golf Club, Wooley Lane, Baxenden.
