For the third year running at the DP World Tour Championship, DP World, Jumeirah Golf Estates and The European Tour have thrown their support behind “Shanab”, a men’s health initiative by Friends of Cancer Patients, which will benefit from $51,400 raised through Birdies for Good.
Shanab, which means moustache in Arabic, raises awareness about the importance of screening for testicular and prostate cancer. Every birdie and eagle made by the professionals over the four days of competition amounted to $50 and $100 respectively being contributed by both sponsors – DP World and Jumeirah Golf Estates – totalling $51,400, with 974 birdies and 27 eagles made at the season-ending tournament.
England’s Matthew Fitzpatrick holed a four-foot birdie putt at the 18th hole to win the tournament by a single shot from his countryman Tyrrell Hatton, and in doing closed out the year in sixth position in the Race to Dubai Rankings presented by Rolex. With that birdie, he also made the final contribution to Birdies for Good in 2016.
Not only was it a week to remember for both players, Fitzpatrick contributed 21 birdies and an eagle to the charitable cause in what was the biggest win of his career, with Hatton notching up a total of 22 birdies and an eagle to raise the highest individual total of $1,200.
Kathryn Wightman-Beaven, Director, Global Sustainability, DP World, said: “While the champion golfers battled it out at the DP World Tour Championship, there were different kinds of birdies all in a good cause – the “Birdies for Good” campaign on male cancers.
“This was the third year we partnered with Friends of Cancer Patients and the European Tour to support the Shanab campaign to raise awareness about the early detection of prostate and testicular cancer. The tournament gives us the chance to engage meaningfully with people from all walks of life on an often under-discussed subject, and we again heard some humbling stories from men and their wives of their personal experiences.
The campaign provides the financial backing to help deliver this message more widely throughout the year and support those going through treatment. We are delighted with the success of the partnership and the attention the Shanab campaign has received.
Julian Small, Managing Director – Club Operations, Jumeirah Golf Estates said: “As host venue of the DP World Tour Championship, we are fully committed to promoting health and well-being through sport. For the past few weeks, the UAE spotlight has been on the game of golf and what better way to maximise it than through providing a platform for a worthwhile cause.”
Fredrik Lindgren, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability for the European Tour said: “Birdies for Good at DP World Tour Championship showed that when we all come together – players, sponsors, media and charities – everyone is a winner.
“We would like to thank DP World and Jumeirah Golf Estates for their generosity, Friends of Cancer Patients for their hard work and vision, our media partners for helping Birdies for Good come alive and our members for promoting the initiative and making on average 16 birdies and eagles each on one of the longest courses on Tour.”
Friends of Cancer Patients work to minimise the impact of cancer through providing financial support, guidance, and various other types of assistance to cancer patients in need and their families throughout the UAE. They raise awareness across the country on the causes of cancer, methods of prevention and screening, types of treatments, and the available support services in the UAE.
Friends of Cancer Patients also work to foster an environment in the UAE where cancer-related issues are a part of public policy, openly and comfortably discussed. The male cancer initiative also promotes ways to achieve early detection of testicular and prostate cancer.
