A GROUP of golfers celebrated 42 years of fundraising by taking the total amount they have raised for a Jewish Community Centre in the last 10 years to £1.5million.

More than 100 players took part in the Redbridge Aid Golf Society (RAGS) fundraiser at Abridge golf and country club on June 21.

And when the final figures were totted up, the golfers had raised an incredible £145,000 which will be split between three Jewish charities.

The biggest beneficiary of the windfall will be the Redbridge Jewish Community Centre in Woodford Bridge Road, Redbridge, with a donation of £130,000 from RAGS.

The centre is used by around 2,000 people every week and is the largest Jewish Community Centre in western Europe.

It provides everything from summer play schemes for children to drop in centres and meals on wheels for the elderly.

Centre manager, Richard Shone, said: “Effectively, the centre runs a deficit of £600,000 a year, so a significant amount like this makes a massive difference to us.

“I think RAGS are Jewish Care’s third largest fundraisers - considering they are just a small local fundraising group that is quite amazing.

“Many of them have relatives we help, but there are also a lot of them who do it purely out of a sense of philanthropy.

“As a community we simply can’t underestimate their incredible generosity.

“Without them, I think it is safe to say our future would not be very bright.”

Businessman Phillip Leigh is chairman of the centre and a committee member of RAGS.

He said: “When we set up RAGS 42 years ago, the centre was in dire straits.

“They couldn’t even afford to pay the electricity bills and were on the brink of closing.

“We couldn’t let that happen, because it is such a vital part of the community.”

Mr Leigh, who runs estate agents Phillip Leigh in Chigwell, added: “It’s a year round effort to get the golf day organised but we are all fiercely committed to it.

“From my point of view, I have been very successful and I want to give something back to the community.”