Clubbing together: Barratt’s golf day raises £28k to help fund a new bionic arm for eight-year-old Isla

The Southampton team at Barratt Homes held their charity golf day recently at East Horton Golf Club for a cause close to their hearts.

They were raising money for Isla, 8, daughter of Barratt’s Customer Care Administrator Lauren Russell.

Isla suffers with symbrachydactyly and was born without a right hand, but her family have been fundraising for a bionic arm from the Open Bionics Foundation.

And so it was that on Thursday 31st August, eight Barratt employees headed out in the wind and rain alongside more than 100 others, making their way round the 18-hole Parkland course at East Horton.

Together they were able to raise £14,200 towards Isla’s new arm – a figure matched by Barratt Developments to bring it up to a total of £28,400 and counting, as money continues to come in.

Barratt Homes MD James Dunne took part on the day, saying: “When we heard that Lauren was fundraising for a bionic arm for Isla, we were keen to help.

“I’m thrilled we’ve been able to arrange this golf day fundraiser for the family.

“Everyone had a great time and I’m delighted that the money we raised is going to such a great cause.”

The golf day has almost doubled the pot from the family’s previous fundraising activities, meaning they’ve now raised more than £57,500.

That’s more than enough for the £13,000 bionic arm – but they’ll need another £5,000 set aside to fund any changes to the arm as Isla grows, and it will also need replacing every three years, pushing the costs much higher.

Lauren added: “I’m so grateful to Barratt Homes for arranging today and I’m absolutely thrilled that such a huge amount of money has been raised!

“On seeing the hero arm at an Open Bionics Foundation event last year, Isla fell in love with it straight away.

“Finding out how much it cost, however, it was going to be a difficult task to get the money together – especially as we want to ensure that Isla can continue to have the bionic arm as she gets older.

“We wouldn’t have been able to afford it without support.”

• barratthomes.co.uk