Going to great lengths for cash
A group of young athletes are celebrating the success of Perth City Swim Club’s first ever race night after raising more than £2000 at the weekend.
The event - sponsored by Perth Honda - had been arranged by the club’s national squad swimmers in a bid to fund coaches for a warm weather camp.
The 17 swimmers chosen to go on the week-long October camp at the T3 facility in Tenerife had been trying to reach a £2000 fundraising target.
But with bake sale, raffle and bag pack funds already in the bank, the success of the race night helped the swimmers smash through their target.
The event was held at Craigie Hill Golf Club on Saturday and attracted around 100 club members, along with family and friends.
Perth Honda had added some financial “horsepower” to the race night by sponsoring the full programme and their involvement was welcomed by club president Carol McPartland.
She said: “To have that backing in place before the fun got underway was a huge boost for the warm weather camp swimmers.
“It turned out to be a highly successful evening and probably exceeded even our highest expectations.
“As well as the swimmers themselves, we had a lot of club members and their families and friends and I’m sure everyone had a great time.”
The swimmers - including world champion and Olympic and Commonwealth medallist Stephen Milne - were raising funds to cover the cost of two volunteer coaches.
They will be helping head coach Ann Dickson run the camp, which is considered a vital part of the plan to prepare the swimmers for next season’s national competitions.
Mike Dand, general sales manager at Perth Honda, said: “Perth City has built a reputation as one of the country’s top clubs with a number of swimmers competing at the very highest level.
Club members Rose McLean, Fearne Crighton, Freya Bannerman and Jamie McGregor were delighted with the support from Perth Honda
“We offered to help sponsor the squad’s race night this weekend after hearing that they had already been working hard to fund the trip for two unpaid coaches.
“We know how hard the swimmers work and this was a great opportunity for them to enjoy a family night out while raising money at the same time.
“Perth Honda was delighted to help the club on this occasion and it’s great to hear it was a sell-out and that they have smashed through their fundraising target.”
A total of 17 swimmers - aged from 13 upwards - have been selected to go on the week-long warm weather training camp at the Tenerife Top Training facility in October.
Head coach Ann added: “Warm weather camps are a key part of the long-term strategy for our top squad of swimmers targeting national and international competition.
“The swimmers all pay their own way, but to have financial support from the likes of Perth Honda helps support the two additional volunteer coaches who will be joining me.”