My name is Richard Patteson-Knight. I'm raising funds for the Ironmongers’ Foundation, which provides grants to support young people and communities, STEM education and the craft of ironwork.

I am an enthusiastic golfer, and have signed up to attempt the “Hagen 54” on 22 July 2026 to raise funds for the Ironmongers’ Foundation. In the early 1920s, Walter Hagen attempted one of golf’s most legendary - and unconventional - challenges playing 54 holes across three Open Championship venues on the Kent Coast in a single day.

It’s a demanding physical and mental challenge, as players tackle 54 holes, three different courses, often starting at dawn.

Participants have been known to take up to 43,500 steps over the course of the day’s challenge, covering roughly 21 miles. This is not a small undertaking for 67-year old overweight member of the Ironmongers’ Court!

The Ironmongers’ Foundation has given grants to a wide range of programmes with the aim of supporting excellence in STEM careers in the UK. For example, it recently funded Oxford University to deliver materials science workshops to promising year 8 pupils who might not otherwise choose to go on to university. Some of those pupils are pictured here learning to make batteries from lemons!

The Foundation is also a long-term gold sponsor of the ‘Get up to Speed’ careers showcase in Rotherham. Over the past 15 years, this event (run by WorkWise) has promoted STEM-related career opportunities to over 52,200 young people, educators and families.

Clearly, I will have to improve my fitness and stamina, as well as sharpen my game in order to raise funds to support more charities like this with grants. I will need to lose weight so that the task is not overwhelming. Players are not allowed to use buggies. At this point I shall be accompanied by a caddie. These golf courses are not flat, being formed out of sand dunes.

As part of my ‘training’, I took part in The Marsden March run by the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity on Sunday 10 May.

The ‘march’ is a 15-mile walk from the Royal Marsden Hospital, Fulham down to the Royal Marsden Hospital in Sutton. The route starts in Chelsea, goes through Fulham, Putney, Wimbledon and on to Sutton. The Hagen 54 is a walk of approximately 21 miles, and so a further 6 miles.

The Marsden Event has been a useful indicator on progress made with my fitness, given that I have plenty of time to overcome blisters and cramp!

Please sponsor me, both to support the Ironmongers’ Foundation to give more grants and make even more of an impact in the UK, and to encourage me to get through the day with a smile on my face.

It’s up to you. You can sponsor me a fixed amount in advance (to help motivate me!) or sponsor me per hole or thousand steps upon completion.