Bridgewater Boat Club, Runcorn, raise cash for charity

Feb 17 2011 Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

Bridgewater Boat Club, Runcorn, raise cash for charity

A CHARITY night in aid of children suffering from cerebral palsy raised a grand total of £1,000.

Members of Bridgewater Motor Boat Club held a social evening to raise money for Stick ‘n’ Step, a charity that helps children up to the age of 18 who suffer from the illness, which affects the brain and nervous system. Nearly 2,000 children are diagnosed with the illness every year.

Club member Hilary Foster said: “We made £700 originally and then had a whip round and made it up to £1,000.

“Most of the people at the boat club are pensioners so it is quite an achievement considering the small number of us.”

To raise the money, the club charged an entrance fee, held raffles during the evening and relied on donations from guests.

The cheque was presented to Lisa Parsley, a mother of one of the children who benefits from the work of the charity.

Stick ‘n’ Step fundraiser Clare Ashworth said: “This support is wonderful. We currently work with 67 children with cerebral palsy, providing free conductive education to them, but we don’t receive any funding so every year we have to raise £250,000 just to keep our doors open.

“This donation will cover the cost of supporting eight children for one week at the centre.”

Bridgewater Boat Club, the oldest boat club on the Bridgewater canal, is now looking forward to its next big event – hosting the annual Federation of Bridgewater Cruising Clubs rally of boats, coinciding with the club’s diamond anniversary celebrations.