Dippers help Seasports project race on
HIS VOICE cracking with emotion, the chairman of Dalintober Beach Regeneration Group spoke about half a decade’s achievements on New Year’s Day.
At Campbeltown Sailing Club Jamie McLean said that when 12 people took to the water, in 2014, he had no idea how the scheme would escalate.
Escalated
Speaking about an hour after 38 swimmers took part in the fifth annual Dip for Dosh, Mr McLean said: ‘I did not know where it was going to go but it has escalated into a much bigger venture involving the sailing club.
‘The beach group was formed from a crowd of girls brought up in the area who learned to swim there when there was no swimming pool.’
Mr McLean added: ‘It is a struggle for me as I have to remain sober the night before.’
Worry
‘I worry - I do not know who is going in the water. It is great to see people bringing others in who can see what we are doing.’
Later he added that the Kintyre Seasports project has united disparate groups in Campbeltown who in the past may never have mixed and praised the Courier’s role.
Mr McLean added: ‘I would also like to thank the RNLI volunteers, paramedic Calum Lawson and all the people who have turned up to support the event.’
Seasports chairman Campbell Fox said that the eBay auction of Sir Paul McCartney merchandise, which finished, just after 9am, on New Year’s Day, had raised £8,235 from an original valuation of £185.
Mr Fox added: ‘The Seasports project would never have got this far without the Dalintober Beach Regeneration Group.
Energised
‘There are 15 organisations signed up to seasports and we need to get all of these groups energised for 2018.
‘Including today’s money the project is up to about £44,000.’
For further pictures and more on this story see page 28.