Golfers to bring a smile to young faces

NEXT Saturday over 1000 golfers will tee-off at the Real Golf de Bendinat in the fifth La Sonrisa Medica Tournament to raise money for the non governmental association, La Sonrisa Medica, which is dedicated to helping children in hospital. Each of the golfers will pay 10'000 pesetas to play in the tournament and the day's golfing will be brought to a close with a cocktail reception and prize giving ceremony that same evening at the golf club with the Balearic Chief Minister expected to present the winner's trophy in keeping with tradition. La Sonrisa Medica was founded in 1994 by Miguel Borras who got the idea after seeing a team of clowns at work in a French hospital. Last year the association's clowns, which perform every week at the Manacor Hospital and Son Dureta in Palma, visited 5'337 patients and spent a total of 172 days visiting and entertaining children at local hospitals. The main objective of the professional clowns, who entertain the young patients with magic, music, games and mime, is to attract and capture the attention of children suffering from terminal illnesses who have to spend a great deal of time in hospital. The main aim is to make life for child patients more comfortable and enjoyable while in hospital and the clowns also provide important therapy for children which doctors are extremely appreciative of. The work of the association has been recognised by a number of institutions and public organisations as well as Queen Sofia of Spain.