The official charities of the 2014 Ryder Cup have been appointed, with two of the bodies coming from Perthshire.
By signing letters of agreement with Ryder Cup Europe, the three charities Friends of St Margaret’s Hospital, Auchterarder, Perth and Kinross Disability Sport and Quarriers will collectively benefit from VIP hospitality and general admission ticketing to the matches at Gleneagles, with a combined face value of £300,000,
Edward Kitson, match director for the 2014 Ryder Cup, said: “Charity is a very important component of any Ryder Cup. The three fantastic organisations represent the local, regional and national interests of Scotland.”
Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport Shona Robison MSP added: “One of the numerous advantages of hosting the 2014 Ryder Cup is the benefit to charitable causes and the people they help across the country, so I am delighted that these three great organisations have been named as official charities.”
Leader of Perth and Kinross Council Ian Miller said he was “delighted” that two such “deserving” local charities had been chosen as the official partners of the Ryder Cup.
Patrick Elsmie, Gleneagles’ managing director, said: “Having one of the world’s largest sporting events come to Auchterarder is clearly a huge opportunity, and one which will be of enormous benefit to the wider Perthshire area.
“The St Margaret’s Health Centre and Hospital was an obvious choice for an official local charity.”
Chairman of Friends of St Margaret’s Hospital, Dr James A Grant, said: “The Friends of St Margaret’s are delighted to be nominated as the local charity of the Ryder Cup.”
Lynn Melville, chairperson of Perth and Kinross Disability Sport, said: “Perth and Kinross Disability Sport are absolutely delighted to be given this generous opportunity from Ryder Cup Europe.
“Although our charity has been running for a number of years our official charity status with the 2014 Ryder Cup will allow us to develop into new areas and support more people to take part in sport.”
Quarriers chief executive Paul Moore said being an official charity partner would lead to the organisation helping “more people succeed in life.”
Team Europe’s captain Paul McGinley will complete the group of official charities of the 2014 Ryder Cup when he announces his chosen cause later this year.