MEMBERS of Blackmoor Golf Club became models to show off the latest fairway styles at a clubhouse fashion show.

The event, at the end of March, was held to raise money for the DEBRA charity, which is researching a cure for the skin condition dystrophic epidermolysis.

The fashion show, organised by club professional Steve Clay with the assistance of Clare Frost, raised £140 which will add to the £40,000 Mr Clay has raised for the charity.

His fundraising began after he met Jon Kennedy, who suffered from the condition which affects the skin and other linings of the body causing blisters to form at the slightest touch and open wounds.

There is no cure and Mr Kennedy died aged 36 as a result of dystrophic epidermolysis.

In 2002 Mr Clay began fundraising for DEBRA by running the London Marathon, followed by the London and New York marathons in 2003.

Mr Clay has continued to run the London Marathon although, he said of last year: “Because my train was delayed, I had to run all the way to get to the start and then I missed going off with the others, and I began to feel ill as I ran. I somehow completed the course so I could honour the £7,000 sponsors had pledge but I collapsed at the end and spent the next two days in hospital before being allowed to go home.”

Mr Clay is running the April 23 London Marathon again this year for DEBRA but said: “I will make sure the train is on time and I will be taking things a little slower round the course. I have set my funding raising target at £2,500, although I would like to get more.”

Another source of his fundraising is the Pros Day, which raises around £20,000.

Blackmoor Club has just been awarded English Golf Championship status and in August will be hosting the English girls amateur under-16s and under-14s teams

The club is undergoing a £400,000 refurbishment which, according to general manager Simon Burton: “Will be done in three phases - the dining room, bar and reception - to bring it up to the standard of our course.

“We have completed the dining room which now has full-length windows overlooking the course.”

The club has around 30 staff, including two chefs, who are mainly local people.