Sunderland schoolboy and rising golf star gets ready to take part in charity golf day
A rising golf star from Sunderland is taking part in a fundraising event later this month to raise money for two North East charities.
Twelve-year-old Joseph Newby is taking part in a charity golf event on Tuesday, May 26, to raise money for the Chloe & Liam Together Forever Trust and James’ Place.
The Chloe & Liam Together Forever Trust raises money to help support young people follow their dreams, and was set up after South Shields couple Chloe Rutherford, 17, and Liam Curry, 19, sadly died in the Manchester Arena bombing in 2017.
James’ Places is another charity that offers free, life-saving treatment to suicidal men at centres in Newcastle, Liverpool, London and Birmingham.
On Tuesday, May 26, Joseph is going to be tackling 54 golf holes at Boldon Golf Club, in Dipe Lane, East Boldon, to try and raise as much money as possible for the two charities.
Joseph’s dad, Craig Newby, said: "He was brought up to always give back.
"With Chloe and Liam, they have given thousands of pounds to support Joseph, so it’s important that we give something back to them.
"And with James’ Place, we try to support them after all they did for my friend.”
Joseph first fell in love with golf at the age of six when Craig, who used to buy and sell golf balls, took him to Boldon Golf Club.
Craig said: "He has been playing for five years. It all started as I used to buy and sell golf balls. One day, I took him to Boldon where we found a pitch and he just fell in love with it.”
He continued: "He goes in snow, wind and rain. He works so hard.
"As he gets older, he can look back at these moments as something that defines him.”
Joseph trains at Boldon Golf Club five times a week as well as attending strength and conditioning training.
He has taken part in a number of competitions and charity events up and down the country over the years, and is looking forward to getting involved in more in the future.