American Golf brand ambassador George Blackshaw has scooped a national disability sports award for his work raising money for children’s charities – with the help of the golfing community.
The 25-year-old from Warrington is a double amputee golfer who lost both his arm and his leg at 15 months old due to an accident. He has worked tirelessly to promote his belief that golf is for everyone while also raising vital funds for Alder Hey Children’s Hospital and the charity Reach.
Blackshaw won the Charity Champion Award at the 2024 Variety Disability Sports Awards and was also shortlisted for the Inspiration Award at the star-studded London event. The red carpet ceremony was filmed by Channel 4, featured Paralympic and Olympic stars and was presented by TV comedian Adam Hills.
After picking up his ward, Blackshaw said: “This is such an honour. It was a wonderful evening and I was so pleased to have my family and my American Golf colleagues in London with me. I firmly believe that golf is a sport for everyone and I want to do everything I can to help get more people on the course so they can all experience this amazing sport.”
Blackshaw plays on the European Disabled Golf Association (EDGA) tour, representing England in the Disability Nations Cup 2022, and twice participating in the G4D Open run by the R&A and DP World Tour.
He held his annual charity golf day at Delamere Forest Golf Club for the past two years, during which time he and his supporters have raised more than £34,000 for Alder Hey Children’s Charity and Reach Charity Limited.
Blackshaw works for retailer American Golf, where he also serves as a brand ambassador and is a member of American Golf’s team of ‘Game Changers’. The Game Changers campaign is designed to open up golf to a diverse range of new players, and highlight the inclusion of players from all walks of life.
Scott Taylor, Marketing and CRM Director at American Golf, said: “It was a very emotional evening in London as we saw all the deserving winners – but we are all especially proud of George. He is a great colleague, a fantastic golfer and a wonderful young man and we are all so happy that he has deservedly won this award.”