Rory McIlroy Donates $1.6 Million To Build Children’s Cancer Center

After a long season spent primarily in the U.S., Rory McIlroy has been enjoying his time lately catching up with family and friends in the United Kingdom.

The world’s No. 1 golfer returned to that side of the Atlantic, of course, to help Europe win the Ryder Cup a couple weeks ago, and he partook in this past week’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, nearly winning the tournament while playing alongside his father. In between the golf, though, have been visits with friends, and on Tuesday, a chance to be on hand for the official opening of Daisy Lodge, a place where families affected by cancer can escape to enjoy a worry-free vacation.

The resort is located in the foothills of the Mourne Mountains in Northern Ireland and run by the Cancer Fund For Children. To help build the center, the Rory McIlroy Foundation donated 1 million British pounds, or 1.6 million U.S. dollars. And he has pledged to give £250,000 ($401,000) a year to help with the costs related to running the lodge.

Pleasure! Keep up the great work! “@NICancerFund: What a fantastic day at Daisy Lodge #officialopening! Thanks @McIlroyRory @roryfoundation”

— Rory Mcilroy (@McIlroyRory) October 7, 2014

Great day with the boss, meeting the families at the official opening of Daisy Lodge @NICancerFund pic.twitter.com/XtFEqAU4OY

— Rory Foundation (@roryfoundation) October 7, 2014

Daisy Lodge is a luxury resort for families who are dealing with cancer, primarily in children. Their time is often spent in the hospital, but at the resort they can regain a sense of well-being, spend quality time together, speak with therapeutic specialists, and meet other families who are enduring similar situations. And it’s all free for the family.

“Daisy Lodge is a place that can help make a difference to people’s lives,” McIlroy said. “I am fortunate to be in a position to be able to help people who need help, and that is what I am about. Winning is not what I am – I don’t spend all my time thinking about trophies. As I’ve become older, I grasped more of a concept of what I can do in society.

“If I ever have a family, I don’t want my children to be proud of their dad as a major golf winner, but as someone who was able to help people less fortunate. When I see the difference time spent at Daisy Lodge means to the children and their families, it is both humbling and rewarding and makes you appreciate what you have, and I’m happy to put what life has given me towards that.”

McIlroy checked in on the progress of Daisy Lodge around the holiday season last year:

And he hopes that this is just the first of many such lodges.

“It doesn’t stop here,” he said Tuesday. “We will be looking to expand the Daisy Lodge concept, both here and elsewhere, and we will look at ways to assist other causes, too.”