Wrote my son in a WhatsApp message from the golf course where he is working over the summer
He’s never sent me a message like that, I better wait up
Dad, he went around the course in 5 under par!
Wow, that’s incredible, especially with all the water. Is that what you want to tell me?
No, listen to his story
Issa is from Cameroon and sadly lost his mum when he was 11 years old
but it was dangerous sleeping on the streets, so he found safety sleeping on the golf course
He survived by selling golf balls he found in the rough, became a caddy and, learned golf just from watching players
He played golf on his days off and rose through the ranks to be the best golfer in West Africa
But while playing in Egypt on the Asian Tour in 2017, he contracted bacterial meningitis and was in a coma for four days
Sadly, he contracted sepsis and they had to amputate his legs and all but two fingers
My word, that’s awful!
And what’s scary is that it could happen to any of us
Anyway, he dreamed of playing golf again but he couldn’t grip the club
Until one day, his daughter suggested using his wheelchair strap and strapping his arm to his club
And that was the turning point
He’s playing in an EDGA Golf tournament at our club sponsored by RSM this weekend
That’s incredible, what a guy!
He’s the nicest, Dad
And do you know what?
What?
He hasn’t got a sponsor
Are you kidding?
No
Hang on, all I’m hearing is about an amazing person that embodies so many human traits that we all admire
– Passion for their dream,
– Courage to lift themselves up when times are tough,
– Tenacity to stay in the game and,
– Humility (to talk to a humble barman)
And yet you’re telling me he can’t find a sponsor?!
I know!
Can you get me his contact details?
Well, I have his Instagram account
Ok, please send him a message and tell him I want to meet him, and we’ll help him
I know Ranmore Fund Management Ltd isn’t in the golf sponsorship game
But we make exceptions for exceptional people
And as we grow our assets,
Ranmore is going to Helpmore
issa nlareb a amang won the tournament on Sunday and we had dinner
My son was right – he’s a very special guy
With a very special, supportive wife and family
I’m speaking to a few companies about joining Ranmore and helping Issa fulfil his dream so stay tuned
If your organisation wants to join us, please get in touch
And let’s help him remind the world what can happen when you
have a dream, then
face adversity
but never give up