GOLF is at the forefront of a drive to raise cash for the stroke unit at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital.

After the sport helped Christine Gibbons’ husband John recover from a stroke, she wanted to show her gratitude for the care he received.

Now the grandmother-of-three is to hold a golf tournament on Friday, June 11 to raise cash for the unit where husband John was treated on Boxing Day in 2008.

Mrs Gibbons, 65, said: “I have done the tournament before for a children’s cancer charity. This time I have just got to help some of the other guys, as we saw how young they were and it shocked me.”

The couple, of Barns Lane, Burford, were at their son’s home in Bedfordshire for Christmas when 66-year-old John had a stroke.

He spent almost a month at the John Radcliffe.

He was left blind in one eye and now walks with a stick.

Mrs Gibbons said: “On seeing first-hand some of the awful disabilities that other people suffered, I can only say how grateful both of us are that he got to the hospital very quickly and was diagnosed and treated immediately.”

Mr Gibbons’s road to recovery had the added incentive of returning to the golf course.

His wife said: “When he was so desperately ill, all I could think of was ‘this is my John’.

“The ultimate aim was to get back to some normality, but how do you do that when you can’t see out of one eye and can’t walk properly?

“I quickly realised that John needed an incentive to help with his recovery, something that would ignite the spark on the road to normality.

“I took some photos of him playing golf into the ward and lo and behold it worked – he was determined to get back on the golf course.

“Although recovery was slow and still is, he is back playing his favourite game, albeit differently and slower.”

Mrs Gibbons began organising golf tournaments 11 years ago, when she decided to raise money for the charity Clic.

This year’s tournament, sponsored by Hartwell Ford at Kidlington, is at the Witney Lakes Resort.

Entry costs £180 for a team of four, and includes refreshments on arrival, a round of golf and a hot and cold buffet. There will also be a raffle.

Sponsors are being sought, with all money raised going to the stroke unit.

For details, call Mrs Gibbons on 07808 485662 or 01993 822345.