Due to the recent death of Ryder Cup golfer Darren Clarke's young wife Heather to breast cancer, golfer Padraig Harrington is donating all the prize money he earns from playing in the PGA Championship to breast cancer research. To honor the memory of Heather Clarke, if he takes the trophy, he plans to donate the $1.2-million dollar purse to the breast cancer charity of Darren Clarke's choice.

"Darren has his choice of charity, and I'll donate whatever I win this week." Harrington said. "This is at least a practical way of helping." Many of the golfers in the tournament are wearing black arm bands to show respect.

Late Saturday night, Heather Clarke, only 39 years of age, mother of two small boys, passed away in London's Royal Marsden Hospital after her struggle to survive breast cancer that had spread to her bones and liver.

"I think both Darren and Heather were exceptionally brave and so dignified about what they've gone through," stated Harrington. "It's been terribly hard."

On Thursday, the funeral for Heather Clarke will take place in Portrush and she will be laid to rest at Ballywillan Church. Just ten years ago, Heather and Darren were married at Ballywillan Church.

With the deepest sadness, we post that Darren Clarke has lost his wife Heather after her long struggle to survive breast cancer. It is reported that Heather, who was 39, and the mother of two small boys Tyrone and Conor, passed away peacefully in London's Royal Marsden Hospital.

Heather had been fighting recurrent breast cancer that had spread to her bones and liver.

"Heather's courage and bravery throughout the last two years when she was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer has been an inspiration." said Clarke. "Heather never complained once throughout her ordeal and we will all miss her greatly. She was a wonderful and enormously supportive wife, mother and friend."

Three weeks ago, Ryder Cup golf pro Clarke announced on his blog that he was quitting golf to go home to support and care for Heather. "There are more important things in my life than golf and it's now time for me to be at home to continue helping Heather with her battle." Clarke said it was time to go home.

Related posts:
Darren Clarke: golfing under the shadow of cancer.
Tiger Woods and Darren Clarke leave golf course.
Darren Clarke: Shot of the Month trophy will be auctioned for cancer.
Darren Clarke: golf loses pro golfer due to cancer struggle.

On Darren Clarke's blog, he states, that in case you missed the BBC interview, he is quitting golf to go home to support and care for his wife who is battling breast cancer. Heather, his wife, is struggling a lot these days against a cancer attempting to defeat her.

"There are more important things in my life than golf and it's now time for me to be at home to continue helping Heather with her battle."

Heather has been battling breast cancer that has spread to her bones and liver. They have two sons, and while Clarke is a competitive athlete, his first priorities and heart are with his wife.

At the beginning of the year, he wrote in his blog, "I'll sign off for this year by wishing every one of you a very prosperous, happy and successful 2006. These last 12 months have been difficult to say the least, but when I have been able to get out on the course there have been enough signs to convince me that there are good times ahead. It was no coincidence that my late flourish to the season coincided with an improvement in Heather's condition and hopefully that trend will continue next year."

Now Clarke says it is time to go home.

08.13.2006 UPDATE: Darren Clarke has lost wife after long struggle with breast cancer.

Stopped by Darren Clarke's blog today and read that he has donated the $1,840 dollar prize from his Shot of the Month award to cancer charity and will begin an online auction for the trophy that he received with it to raise additional money for cancer charity.

Clarke posted, "It really is a worthwhile cause and a superb trophy so here is a chance for a generous benefactor to help us fight this terrible disease by winning our auction."

Clarke's wife, Heather, has been battling breast cancer that has spread to her bones and liver. They have two sons, and while Clarke is a competitive athlete, his first priorities and heart are with his wife, as she struggles with ongoing cancer treatments.

When Tiger Woods was worried during his late father's struggle with prostate cancer, Clarke was one of the people Woods spent time with, as both understood how the other felt.

If you are interested in bidding on the trophy, Clarke said he will be posting information about it shortly.

08.13.2006 UPDATE: Darren Clarke has lost wife after long struggle with breast cancer.

7.21.2006 UPDATE: Darren Clarke: golf loses pro golfer due to cancer struggle.

Irishman avoids temptations of St. Patrick's Day, a sports feature written by Steve Campbell for the Houston Chronicle, Campbell wonders how Darren Clarke, an Irishman who never met a pub or a pint he didn't like, rang in a holiday that celebrates drinking without drinking. Clarke, who is currently 10 under, tied with Lucas Glover and Greg Owen, and four strokes behind Rod Pampling in the Bay Hill Invitational, answered with, "By remaining ridiculously sober, which goes against all my principles." Saturday morning, in his first round after St. Patrick's Day, Clarke went on a birdie binge and surged from a tie for 39th to a tie for second with a bogey-free, 9-under 63.

All joking aside, Clarke's wife, Heather, is gravely ill with breast cancer that has spread to her bones and liver. They have two sons, and while Clarke is a competitive athlete, his first priorities and heart are with his wife, as she struggles with ongoing cancer treatments. Clarke keeps an online journal at his website, where he talks about golf, his wife's cancer, family and life.

On the last day of 2005, he wrote, "I'll sign off for this year by wishing every one of you a very prosperous, happy and successful 2006. These last 12 months have been difficult to say the least, but when I have been able to get out on the course there have been enough signs to convince me that there are good times ahead. It was no coincidence that my late flourish to the season coincided with an improvement in Heather's condition and hopefully that trend will continue next year."

Today he wrote, "Actually I didn't do anything outrageous or hole any ridiculously long shots. I just played well and everything clicked together. I haven't been able to play a lot of golf this year so it's good to score well on a very tough golf course. Hopefully I'll be able to keep it going. I'll certainly be trying to." We are hoping today is the start of many good times ahead.

8.13.2006 UPDATE: Darren Clarke has lost wife after long struggle with breast cancer.
7.21.2006 UPDATE: Darren Clarke: golf loses pro golfer due to cancer struggle.