As Club Captain at West Hove Golf Club for the coming year. I have chosen Albion in the Community as my Captains charity and in particular one aspect of their work Football for people with autism.

The funds that I will raise will go towards AITC putting on football sessions for people with autism at the American Express Elite Football Performance Centre in Lancing on a bi-weekly basis. AITC is providing a growing number of people with the chance to play the sport they love in a safe and supportive environment.

Zachary is one of the participants at this session and this is what his Mum had to say about the impact it has had:

He loves the training sessions. Zachary finds social situations quite difficult and it can be hard for him to try new things. He can get quite anxious about new things and takes some time with them; language wise things have to be quite precise and he has to have a lot of planning and reassurance.

He feels so safe, happy and secure at the AITC session that he doesn't need support from us. If I was to introduce something else to him he might want me to stay but at the football he cant wait to get rid of me!

And it has had another positive effect. Zachary hadn't felt confident enough to visit the Amex to watch the Albion but since working with AITC he has been able to join his family in the stands cheering on the Seagulls.

I have a number of friends and colleagues who have children with autism and have seen first-hand how rewarding and challenging this can be. With your support I would love to raise funds that can make such a positive impact on their lives and of course their parents lives as well.

I am pleased to say that Richard Burgess a member of our Green-keeping staff has agreed to run the Brighton Half Marathon with me on Sunday 24 February and together we hope to raise £500 towards the overall total of £4000 to run bi-weekly sessions in a year.

Both Richard and I with our wives and Richards son Henry attended one of the sessions on Sunday 3 February with Emma Brockhurst Fundraising Executive for AITC (Please see photos attached) We were hugely impressed by the work that was being done.

How can I contribute?

You can do this by either adding your name to the sponsorship form in the Professionals shop or bar area at West Hove Golf Club or search for the site on the Just Giving site.

Any contribution however small is gratefully received. To get the ball rolling I have pledged £50 .