KEY POINTS:
Tiger Woods' right hand man, New Zealander Steve Williams, has donated at least $1 million to Auckland's Starship children's hospital.
Williams, in New Zealand for a short break, announced the donation yesterday in front of patients, their families and medical staff.
The money will go towards the re-building of Starship's oncology and haematology wards, which are being expanded to cater for more children and teenagers with cancer.
Williams, who has been world No 1 golfer Woods' caddy since 1999 and is also a speedway champion, said the funds would come from the Steve Williams Foundation. The foundation, set up in 2001, traditionally supports junior golf and speedway projects.
"My wife Kirsty and I decided we wanted the foundation to support another area that was in real need, where we could make a big difference," Williams said. "We talked to the Starship Foundation and were immediately sold on the Starship cancer ward.
"We spent part of a day at Starship and met many families in the cancer ward and it was impossible not to get emotional. I couldn't imagine what it would be like to have a child diagnosed with cancer and have to go through the treatment process."
Despite not revealing exactly how much Williams donated, the foundation's chief executive Andrew Young said it was a seven-figure sum.
"It's an understatement to say the current facilities are not ideal. Much of the ward is bordering on miserable and fails to meet the needs of our patients in many ways.
The donation meant two-thirds of the $4 million needed for the ward had now been raised, Mr Young said.
