Visit from pageant queens
MISS England and Miss Lancashire stopped by to launch the new Southport Gymnastic Club. The gym, on Segars Lane in Ainsdale, opened on Saturday (September 3) and will now be run as a charity after it was saved from closure following a parent-run campaign.
Sarah Simcock, who runs Remedy in the town centre, is a leading member of the campaign.
She said: “That’s it! We’re open. Thank you to Miss England and Miss Lancashire for coming along.
“The support we have had from all the gymnasts and parents has been fantastic and we can now look forward to building a positive future for the club.”
The Parents Support Group (now CIO) joined together in September 2015, as they feared the gym would be closed for good.
After months of campaigning, they managed to secure the club, which is currently being used under a two-year, rent-free lease from the previous owners, the YMCA. However, the CIO is in a desperate race against time to raise funds, or risk the club closing down after all.
The group needs to raise a minimum of £350,000 to buy the building outright, and this amount will increase every three months if it is re- not raised in full in the first year.
Sarah continued: “Even though we have secured the gym, we haven’t saved it - yet.”
An anonymous donor has offered to give the new owners of Southport Gymnastics Club a £50k donation - if the club can raise the same amount by Christmas. Miss England was there to donate £5,000 r raised through this year’s contest to b buy vital equipment for the new gym. The donation was made possible through the support of Southport charity the Community Link Foundation.
The club’s new management are currently discussing various plans to raise the money needed.
An estimated 1,300 children use the f facility, with another few hundred on a waiting list. The club is most famous for its high-class coaching with Olymp pian and World Championship team silver medallist Daniel Purvis. and 2012 European Championships junior all-around champion Frank Baines both training there.
Earlier this year, Hollywood legend David Hasselhoff, pictured, threw his weight behind the campaign to save the club.
The actor tweeted: “To the guys at Southport YMCA gymnastics club, some great Olympic hopefuls need this place so please give it your support.”
For more information, or to make a donation, visit mydonate.bt.com/charities/southportgymnasticsclub