A SERIAL fund-raiser is preparing to bring his prestigious golf tournament to the district for the first time.

Stewart Bailey’s annual charity golf day will take place at Slaley Hall on Friday, June 21.

The event, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary, has raised tens of thousands of pounds for good causes over the past decade.

And the latest offering will be in aid of the Great North Air Ambulance Service.

Stewart, who is from Chester-le-Street, began his fund-raising journey after his family was hit by tragedy.

Within the past two decades, Stewart has lost his mother, Lily, to heart failure, while his father, Jack, and eldest brother, John, were cruelly taken by cancer.

The annual golf day is one of several activities undertaken by a man who has carried out parachute jumps, and organised charity football matches, sportsman evenings, auctions, and race nights.

He said: “The annual golf day attracts over 100 players every year, and it leads to tremendous generosity from golfers, businesses, and volunteers and other supporters.

“It’s great to be bringing the day to Tynedale, an area where the people love their golf, and to Slaley Hall, which is a first class venue.”

Stewart is excited that the tournament will take place on the Hunting Course at Slaley, which hosted a European Tour event between 1996 and 2002. The Slaley Hall Northumberland Challenge, which was later re-named the Compaq European Grand Prix, and the Great North Open, attracted global stars such as Retief Goosen, Colin Montgomerie, and Seve Ballesteros.

“Over the past four years, my event has raised £15,000 for the Children’s Heart Unit Fund (CHUF), which supports vital work at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital,” he said.

“This year I wanted to do something for the Great North Air Ambulance, an incredible cause which does not receive Government support and relies on donations.”

No fewer than 26 teams of four will line up for a tournament which will include a car prize for a hole-in-one. A Titleist club fitting van will be present, while golfers can also test drive a Tesler car. Stewart’s overall fund-raising total currently stands at £572,000, and he hopes the golf day will take him to the £600,000 mark.

The businessman, who runs sweet supplier Pig 'n' Mix, said Winn Solicitors would be the sponsors of this year's event.