Alysia Shah, from Croydon, began her year as captain at Farleigh Golf Club with a charity drive on Saturday, April 26.
The event marked the start of a year-long fundraising campaign aimed at raising money and awareness for Brain Tumour Research.
The club’s 700 members attended the event, which was part of the official captain handover, and featured food, drink, and golfing challenges.
The 33-year-old business owner was inspired to take action after two members of her family died from different types of brain tumours, three years apart.
“We lost my aunt in July last year due to complications with her surgery; one week after finding out she had a tumour.
“As a family, we all want research into brain tumours to be a priority so what has happened in our family doesn’t happen to others.
“Using this opportunity to raise awareness and funds for the disease felt right.”
She said: “After hitting my first ball, I hurt my arm and ended up in a sling.
“I recovered, went back and hit a good shot and have improved so much since that day.
“It’s certainly a proud achievement to be given such a prestigious opportunity to captain the golf club and fundraise for a great cause.”
Alongside her full-time role at Rush Athletics, a business she runs with her husband Rushie Shah, Ms Shah has planned a year of fundraising events with the golf club.
She is on course to raise thousands for the charity and is already planning her next fundraiser.
The charity day, set for June 14, is the biggest event in her golfing calendar.
Ms Shah said: “To be a young female golf captain feels special and a great responsibility.
“I’ve learned a lot from watching online videos and look up to women’s world number one golfer Nelly Korda, her swing is perfect in my opinion.
“I want to use my year in the captaincy to help find kinder treatments and eventually a cure for all types of brain tumours.
“I’ve seen first-hand the risk and side effects that come with treating the disease.
“If we understood more about brain tumours, there is a better chance at improving patient outcomes.”
Charlie Allsebrook, community development manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: “A family having multiple brain tumour diagnoses is rare.
“Alysia sharing the story of her aunt and uncle is a reminder that brain tumours are indiscriminate; they can affect anyone at any age.
“The number of brain tumour diagnoses has increased by 11 per cent in the last decade yet just 1 per cent of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to brain tumours since records began in 2002.
“With the generosity of people such as Alysia using her hobby to raise money and awareness for the charity, we are closer to finding a cure for all types of brain tumours.”
Brain Tumour Research funds research at dedicated centres in the UK and campaigns for more investment in research into brain tumours to speed up new treatments for patients.
The charity is calling for a national annual spend of £35 million to improve survival rates and patient outcomes in line with other cancers such as breast cancer and leukaemia.
