BLACKMOOR Golf Club has helped to transform wasteland at Guildford's Royal Surrey Hospital into a therapeutic garden. Roy Boxall raised £7,500 from members and visitors at the club, during a series of events while he was senior team captain last year. He donated the money to the hospital's Fountains Centre, a relaxation area for people with cancer and their families, after seeing how it had benefited a friend whose wife had attended the centre before her death from the disease. On Monday, Mr Boxall and his wife Rita saw how the money had been spent when they were invited to the official opening of the tranquil garden, created on what had been a piece of wasteland next to the relaxation area. The former captain had proved how committed he was to fundraising by dressing as a clown on Captain's Day last July and collecting £400 in "smile penalties" from any player seen wearing a frown. The golf club's donation was almost a fifth of the £42,000 cost of the garden, which was praised by guest of honour Guildford MP Anne Milton as a "true example of holistic therapy". The Fountain Centre is a charity working in partnership with the hospital's St Luke's Cancer Centre, the main treatment centre for cancer patients from Bordon and the surrounding area. It aims to complement medical treatments by offering a relaxing environment for anyone affected by cancer, as well as therapies such as acupuncture, homeopathy, hypnotherapy, massage and reflexology. Features in the centre's new therapeutic garden include a fountain, a rockery and a pinewood chalet. Fountain Centre manager Gail Maguire said at the opening: "This has been a thoroughly rewarding project to be part of, but it would not have been possible without the big contributions from volunteers and donators." Mrs Milton added: "I would like to thank the managers of the centre for having the vision to press the 'go' button. "This is a beautiful garden and I'm sure it will achieve all it is intended to."
