A PAIR of keen golfers are set to complete four rounds in a day to help buy a prosthetic leg for a former colleague.

Friends Chris Appleton and Marc De Brabander, who both live in Newton-le-Willows, will complete 72 holes at Haydock Park Golf Club on Friday, June 21.

Their former workmate at Yorkshire Bank, Lee Albino, 36, broke his right leg in March before doctors discovered he had a rare form of bone cancer.

Lee, from Chester, needed to have his leg amputated from the hip down within a week to remove the majority of his cancer.

Chris, 34, who worked with Lee for around seven years, said: "Lee was always upbeat whenever I saw him, he liked having a joke.

"He used to play golf regularly and when I visited him in hospital recently he was remarkably positive despite what he has been through.

"Lee said he would like to play golf again one day and that prompted me to think I would like to something to raise some money for Lee.

"Macmillan Cancer Support have a golf challenge every year so I thought I would do it as well.

"The most holes I have finished in one day before is 36 holes so this will be tough.

"We will be playing 17 hours of golf and walking around 40km."

Chris contacted the club, based at Golborne Park, about the challenge and its management agreed to let him and Marc, 35, play for free all day.

They will be joined by eight players who wanted to get involved in supporting Lee's cause.

Chris and Marc will have two playing partners for each of the time slots to make up a quartet of four balls.

Their first round will tee off at 5.30am before they get back to the clubhouse to start another 18 holes at around 9am.

After lunch, the golfers will return to the first hole for the third time at 1.30pm.

And then in the evening, they will start their final rounds at 5.30pm.

Lee has lauded Chris and Marc as "amazing" for organising the event.

St Helens Star:

Lee Albino in hospital

He is undergoing a six-month course of chemotherapy before he starts the journey of learning to walk again with the help of a prosthetic leg.

The cost of the leg along with maintenance costs is expected to cost more than £50,000.

Chris and Marc have expressed their gratitude to the golf club for allowing them and their playing partners to play there for no charge.

Business manager of the golf club, Stephen Nicholson, said: “We are delighted to be able to help such a great cause in the community and support the fundraising efforts.”

Chris has launched a crowdfunding page to raise funds for the challenge.

To donate to it click here.