GOLFERS in Musselburgh have raised more than £1,000 to help provide art therapy for children with chronic conditions.

A competition was organised by the Musselburgh Old Course Golf Club in support of the Teapot Trust, which is based in the town at Stuart House, Eskmills Park.

The recent event attracted 80 players and was won by Scott Higgins with a net score of 64. Euan Glen had the best scratch score with a 68.

The golfers paid an entry fee, with the cash split between prize money and the charity. A raffle with prizes donated by members and friends of the golf club was also held.

Matthew Craigie, a member of the committee, said the club always held an annual charity golf day. He said they had also hosted children’s Easter and Christmas parties, festive dinners for the elderly, and a Christmas dinner and discos for a group of young adults with special needs.

In the past, money has been raised for Cancer Research UK, MS Society, Alzheimer’s Society and Funny Lumps, which supports people with Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (Nf1) – one of the most common but least known genetic conditions, affecting about one in 3,000 people.

In recent years, the club has decided to donate to smaller charities closer to home, including the Hollies Day Centre and to provide gravestones for former Open champions from the Musselburgh area who have unmarked graves at Inveresk Cemetery.

Mr Craigie said this year’s golf day raised £1,375 for the Teapot Trust, adding: “It is a locally based charity and the service it provides is very beneficial to local communities.”

He added: “We’d like to thank everyone who supported this year’s charity golf day.”

The Teapot Trust was founded by Laura Young and her husband John, whose daughter Verity died from cancer in November 2009.

Verity suffered from Lupus and had spent most of her life in hospital.

To cope with her disease, Verity had taken comfort in art as a way to escape her illness.

Laura channelled her grief into setting up the Teapot Trust.

The charity provides art therapy for sick children, and the caring mum was inspired by the fact that Verity loved the tea parties her family threw for her to raise her spirits while she was in hospital.