Rotary Club of Ascot

PRESS RELEASE – 31st March 2006

 

Communications & Press officer           Ian Valentine                        ian@cival.info

Public Relations                                         Beverley Williams               01344 874300

 

£5,000 raised for Ascot Day Centre

 

Now that all the sponsorship money has been come in, it can be revealed that the 10th Sunninghill Wheelbarrow Race (held on New Year’s Day) has raised a total of £5,000 for Ascot Day Centre.  On Tuesday evening, (28th March) local celebrity Tom O’Connor presented a large pro-forma cheque for £4,500 Mrs June Martin, the chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Ascot Day Centre.  This is in addition to the £500 which was presented on the day of the race itself.

The presentation took place in the Duke’s Head public house in Sunninghill, which, together with the Carpenter’s Arms and the Dog & Partridge, was one of the three pubs which participated in the fund-raising.  The Wheelbarrow Race involved ten teams in fancy dress and was organised and supported by members of the local community (led by Neil Morgan), Ascot Round Table and the Rotary Club of Ascot.  The event was co-ordinated by David Mear of the Rotary Club.

On the day of the Race, funds had been raised through company and team sponsorship and a bucket collection, and after the Race, a raffle and an auction were held at a public house in Sunninghill.  On 28th March, the total was augmented by a further raffle and auction, with Nick Carter as auctioneer.  Tom O’Connor was present and entertained everyone with his jokes and inimitable sense of humour before making the presentation. Tom also presented a cup to Nick Brennand-Carter, a representative of the winning team, AFC Dukes, who had completed the course and the drinking required at six venues on the route, in an amazing time of under 11 minutes.

The Ascot Day Centre serves a wide area around Ascot and Sunninghill.  It provides day care for the elderly and infirm, including a hot meal at lunchtime and some health care and hair dressing.

Left to Right: Geoff Donovan, Vice President, RCA; Nick Carter, Auctioneer; David Mear, event coordinator; Alan Penny, President, RCA; June Martin, chairman of the board of trustees, Ascot Day Centre; Tom O’Connor;, Neil Morgan; Nick Brennand-Carter, representative of this years winning team, AFC Dukes.

Tom O’Connor with June Martin

Tom O’Connor presenting the cup to Nick Brennand-Carter of the AFC Dukes team, this year’s winners.