WHEN two Suffolk golfers were hit by cancer in the same year, their fellow members were determined to club together to raise money for charity.But instead of teeing off a typical fundraising initiative, the amateurs at Woodbridge Golf Club decided the best way to face adversity was with a smile.

WHEN two Suffolk golfers were hit by cancer in the same year, their fellow members were determined to club together to raise money for charity.

But instead of teeing off a typical fundraising initiative, the amateurs at Woodbridge Golf Club decided the best way to face adversity was with a smile.

They decided to create some humorous, golf-related postcards, which involved superimposing cartoon characters on photographs of the Woodbridge course.

The club turned to Bryan Hayward, a cartoonist who lives in nearby Melton, to make their vision a reality.

Gill Currie, 58, who has suffered from breast cancer but is now all clear, said they proved quite a success.

She said: “Golf is such an irritating game that you have to laugh at yourself sometimes.

“Unless you're a really good golfer, and you don't make mistakes, you have to have a sense of humour.”

More than 500 packs, each containing eight cards, have been sold, raising £1,800.

Mr Hayward, 73, who has been drawing cartoons as a hobby for many years, said he was delighted with the reaction to his work.

“I always do the Christmas cards for the golf club and then Gilly said she was doing this and asked me if was prepared to draw some cartoons for her,” he said.

“I was very happy to do so and am very pleased indeed with the way they have gone.”

Mrs Currie, who lives in Brandeston and diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2005, said she was delighted with response to the fundraising initiative launched during her year as captain.

Sadly her fellow golfer struck down by cancer - the club's 2005 ladies vice captain, died from a malignant tumour.

Coupled with other fundraising activities held throughout the year, the club has generated £3,600 for the Cancer Campaign in Suffolk (CCIS), plus £280 for the national Breast Cancer Campaign.

The money will be put towards a Senovision Stereotactic Digital Imaging Unit that the charity has been raising funds for over the past 12 months. The unit will be used by the East Suffolk Breast Screening Service.

n The cartoons, priced at £4 for eight, remain on sale at Golf Galore, in Gloster Road, Martlesham, and by contacting CCIS on 08456 026607.