Fundraising on the Fairway: Dementia UK benefits from Lady Captain’s year of events

After being selected as the 2025 Lady Captain of The Castle Golf and Leisure Club, known as Stafford Castle, Heather Ernstsons selected Dementia UK as her chosen charity, having seen first-hand the impact of the condition when her mother Maisie was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2017.

Throughout the year, she has raised thousands through a series of events including a garden party, coffee morning and raffles. The flagship event of was Lady Captain’s Day where golfers enjoyed taking part in Highland Games, a nod to Heather’s Scottish heritage, and dressed up as inspirational women from Amelia Earhart and Mary Poppins to Madonna and two members even dressed as Lady Captain herself.

Members also went the extra mile to contribute to the total, with Debbie Brackstone completing two open-water swims and Deb Kelly and Zara Taylor playing 72 holes of golf back-to-back over 12 hours, with Deb also jogging a mile a day throughout an entire month.

Heather’s grandchildren added £670 to the total through their ‘Ernies Walk’ fundraiser in memory of their great nan Maisie. Ten-year-old Alex, nine-year-old Zachary and eight-year-old Max, as well as Rocky the dog, completed a walk in Cannock Chase alongside Lady Captain and her husband Pete and daughters Harriet and Henrietta.

Heather said: “I’d like to say a huge thank you to all of the members who have wholeheartedly supported my year as Lady Captain, giving generously and turning up enthusiastically to all of the events. A special thank you must go to the Stafford Castle club management for their support, to the other local golf clubs who have donated free rounds as raffle prizes, and to Stafford Bowling Club for hosting a day at their green for us. Also, to the Staffordshire businesses who have generously donated prizes, and to the members who have added to the total through their own events.

“I didn’t have a goal in mind when I first started my year, but am very proud that we have collectively raised more than £6,400. Dementia UK is an extremely important charity, supporting the millions across the country who are sadly impacted by dementia. Having seen firsthand the impact of the disease when my mother Maisie was diagnosed, the charity was the clear choice for me during my year.

“Through a lot of hard work, a little bit of sweat, but also lots of fun and laughter, the Stafford Castle Ladies’ Section has done a fantastic fundraising job!”

Joanna Sullivan, Deputy Director of Fundraising at Dementia UK, said: “We are so grateful to Heather for fundraising for Dementia UK. One in two of us will be affected by dementia in our lifetime - either by caring for someone with the condition, developing it ourselves, or both. It can be exhausting and overwhelming, not only for the person with dementia, but also for the people caring for them, and their wider family and friends.

“Thanks to the hard work of our amazing fundraisers like Heather, more families than ever will be able to access the life-changing support offered by our Admiral Nurses.”

For more information about the charity, go to dementiauk.org.