72 holes will take an iron will...

Photo: -DARREN ROBINSON

FEELING chipper: David gets in the swing.

KEEP SMILING UPDATE: 

CHRONICLE managing editor David Whaley, whose award-winning “Keep Smiling” articles about his throat cancer journey were a regular year-long feature in the newspaper, is to undertake the Macmillan Longest Day Golf Challenge as a thank-you.

The challenge is to play 72 holes in a day and David, with friends Mike Cocker, Derek Ashford and Tony Doidge, will be playing at Werneth Golf Club on July 4.

“We just wanted to do something to say thanks for all the wonderful help I have had over the last year,” said David, who is hoping readers who enjoyed his regular “Keep Smiling” columns will help boost the charity pot.

The Garden Suburb golf club will also have fundraising stalls from noon until 5pm on the day, and there will be a silent auction for prizes - including two executive box tickets for the One Direction concert at the O2 Arena in London on September 25, a golf day for four on the PGA National Course at the Belfry and two tickets for a Manchester United home game next season.

David (54), from Shaw, was stunned when a routine visit to his GP about a gravelly voice in April 2014 turned out to be cancer

He underwent radiotherapy but when that failed to clear the tumour on his vocal cords, he underwent a partial laryngectomy in January.

All through his treatment, David wrote about the experience and was honoured by a special award at the 2014 O2 North-West Newspaper Awards.

David said: “I have been incredibly lucky and the money will go to help others who walk a similar path,” he added. July 4 will be a family-friendly day at the golf club so come along and give us a cheer — we will certainly need it!”



Be a trolley good help: David and his friends are looking for caddies for each round. The rounds take place at 5.30am, 8.30am, 12.30pm and 4.30pm. If you can help, email: dwhaley@oldham-chronicle.co.uk

You can also make a donation on the Just Giving website by going to: www.justgiving.com/4Amigos-KeepSmiling