Legendary five-in-a-row winning Dublin manager Jim Gavin is heading to Mauritius next month to raise money for charity in a golf tournament.
The former Blues boss, who led them to Six Sam Maguire wins in his time in charge between 2013 and 2019, is hoping to take home a grand prize of €29,860 to help DeterMND: Tackling Motor Neurone Disease.
Gavin will join a star-studded field in the Indian Ocean on March 29 in the Celebrity Series Grand Final at the MCB Tour Championship, with each celebrity playing on behalf of an elected charity for a charity prize fund of £100,000.
Joining Gavin in the field for the Celebrity Series Grand Final will be top TV presenter and broadcaster Dan Walker, former England footballers Teddy Sheringham and Robbie Fowler, Scottish sporting legends Gordon Strachan and Gavin Hastings, ex-Boyzone singer Keith Duffy and television sports presenter Georgie Bingham, who is the current host for the Legends Tour and notably known for her time with ESPN and Sky.
And Gavin will have friend and former All-Ireland winner Anto Finnegan - who set up DeterMND after his diagnosis - on his mind next month as he looks to take home the big prize.
Gavin said: “Anto Finnegan is one of Belfast’s greatest sporting heroes having captained Co. Antrim to a famous All-Ireland Gaelic football title in 1999.
“Anto was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2012 and, as on the sports field, he didn’t back down. He was brave, selfless and determined – which is reflected in the name he gave to his charitable trust ‘deterMND: tackling Motor Neurone Disease’.
“He sadly passed away last year aged 48 but his memory and legacy remain strong as does his ambition and inspiration to raise awareness for and research around the disease. It’s a privilege for me to compete for charity at the inaugural Celebrity Series Grand Final, MCB Tour Championship in Constance Belle Mare Plage, Mauritius.
“Anto will be with me on every hole, on every shot, on every step. As he said himself “Enjoy life; every day is a blessing. Live it to the fullest, and if you do something to help someone, then roll up your sleeves and get on with it”. I’ll do my very best to honour those words.”
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