A group of friends rallied around Mark Jennings recently, raising some $5,628 from a golf tournament at Belmont Hills to assist with medical expenses overseas.

Jennings, who gives back to the community despite his own health issues, is due to have surgery on his eyes overseas.

“We felt that he has been such a tremendous help to a lot of people in the community and has some challenges himself with his vision,” said former footballer Nolan Walker, one of the organisers of the golf tournament which attracted some 20 foursomes, including former athletes like Winston “Coe” Trott, Kyle Lightbourne, “Toe” Dill, Quinton Sherlock, Gary Burgess and Sinclair “Chips” Walker.

“We thought we would get together and do something for him so that he can continue on doing what he’s doing and hopefully will be in better condition to do it.

“It was some time ago we were doing something similar at Young Men’s Social Club for Harold Madeiros or Mel Lewis and we didn’t realise the severity of his vision until we were doing an interview on his show and realised then that he can’t see. That’s when we decided to do something to help him out.”

Last October, the Former Cup Match Players and Officials Foundation held their second annual benefit golf tournament with part proceeds going towards Jennings’s medical expenses.

The Former Cup Match Players and Officials Foundation’s goals include assisting those past players and officials, or their families, in need of health assistance as well as funding those youngsters aspiring in cricket.

Last year, the committee opted to assist Jennings who, despite his own challenges, raises funds every year to send youngsters to summer camps overseas.

In November, he honoured 68 former athletes from 30 sports at his first Bermuda Sports Magazine Awards ceremony at CedarBridge Academy.