Rick Shields, the world’s most-watched online golf personality with almost three million subscribers on YouTube, has raised more than £250,000, with charity playing an increasingly important role in his channel’s activities.
Shields initially started out reviewing equipment and products on his flagship channel, “Rick Shields Golf,” and now has a large following on the “Rick Shields Golf Show” podcast and the HIT channel, and is eager to see more charities benefit from his growing audience.
His first YT Golf Day in 2019 raised over £50,000 and since then he has been heavily involved in campaigns such as MIND and the It’s Never You childhood cancer charity, as well as completing the London Marathon in 2023 and 2024, raising over £16,000.
Its biggest fundraising effort to date was the Walk 150 campaign with Prostate Cancer UK, in which Shields and other fundraisers walked the distance from Prestwick Golf Club, where the first British Open was held in 1860, to St Andrews, ahead of the famous Old Course which will host the 2022 tournament.
His latest project was a partnership with Make-A-Wish® UK to invite 13-year-old fan Jack from Chorley to the HIT Studio for a day. Jack was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in 2020 and after three years of treatment, he is set to “ring the bell” in July 2023. He has completed treatment for the disease which affects his blood and bone marrow.
Jack and his family enjoyed a memorable day helping him experience what it’s like to be a YouTube star. This brave young man cites Rick as his hero, whose videos help him improve his own skills and are often a welcome distraction from his illness.
Make-A-Wish UK is a global movement bringing joy to seriously ill children, so when Rick learned of Jack’s story, the challenge began to create a unique, unforgettable experience.
Before visiting the podcast studio where The Rick Shields Golf Show is filmed, Jack took part in a fun “Closest to the Pin” challenge and sat down with Rick at the microphone for an exclusive episode that was filmed, edited and shared with Jack and his family as a treasured keepsake.
Rick Shields said: “It was a fantastic experience meeting Jack and spending the day with him. His passion for golf and positive spirit was truly inspirational.”
“It’s days like these when the hard work really pays off, and working with charities like Make-A-Wish UK reminds us of the incredible work being done to make children’s lives especially manageable and enjoyable during the darkest of times.”
Kate McDonald, wish granter for Make-A-Wish UK, said: “There are more than 63,000 critically ill children like Jack across the UK.”
“A wish has the power to escape the harsh realities of treatment and hospitalization and recapture the magic of childhood. We are incredibly grateful to Rick Shields for creating such an incredible wishing experience for Jack.”
“Thanks to him, Jack’s family has so many wonderful memories they can cherish forever.”
For more information, including how to donate, visit www.make-a-wish.org.uk
To learn more about Rick Shields and follow him, visit rickshiels.com.