BDWWA

Thanks to our supporters for their fund raising efforts through 2010

Thursday, January 6th, 2011

I wanted to publish a note of thanks to our supporters, through whose efforts the BDWSA has benefitted substantially through 2010.

As a small charity the BDWSA is runs a tight budget, balancing our income and expenditure carefully.  We generate income through our core activities, including membership fees, skiing activity both individually and through organised courses and use of the facilities at Heron Lake. This income generally meets our operational expenses.  We are fortunate and very grateful for the continued support of Veolia Water who provide our home water and support us on a regular basis.

However, for other elements required to provide the service we do; including replacing and buying new and sometime specialized equipment and subsidising the cost for introductory skiing courses, we are wholly dependent on our fund raising activities. Often funds are raised through corporate donations or other specialist trusts and funds, whose aims align with those of the BDWSA.   Recent examples include;

* Nikki Medland who though her contacts at British Airways, organized a donation to fund our new Youth Introductory courses, 3 of which will run through the 2011 season hopefully introducing around 30 new young people with disabilities to Water Skiing.

* NDS Limited, who made a generous donation.

* The Aiming High for Disabled Children fund, who have provided two grants designated for replacement and addition of new equipment including wetsuits, life vests and helmets and Seated Ski’s and Frames.

Outside, of corporate and charitable trusts we are also fortunate to have many supporters who are willing to go the ‘extra mile’ to help raise funds for the BDWSA. This year has seen two fantastic examples; 

• Janine Edge (who as I am sure you will all know is one of Tony Edge’s daughters) and friend Helen Napper completed the marathon Hellespont swim.  The Hellespont separates Europe from Asia in north-west Turkey is one of Europe’s busiest shipping lanes, but was closed to traffic for an hour-and-a-half for the 4.5km swim.  Renowned for its swell and strong currents as well as the shipping, this is rightly regarded as one of the toughest swimming challenges around, with only half the entrants completing the course. Janine and Helen’s time of 1 hour 15 minutes kept them out of any clashes with supertankers and raised over £1,700 (with funds still arriving) for the BDWSA. 

The photo shows Janine and Helen preparing for the off.
 

• Graham Hill, who along with his colleagues at the Bracklesham Club Golf Society has been a long term supporter of the BDWSA raising over £3,000 across 9 years (including £380 this year), individually undertook an Iron Man triathlon in Roth, Germany, which consisted of a 3.8 kilometre swim, 180K on a bike and a 40K run, which he duly completed in a superb time of 11 hours and 4 minutes.  Graham raised £1,215 for the BDWSA through this fantastic effort.  

Here is a photo of Graham crossing the finish line accompanied by his daughters.

Our congratulations and thanks go to both, for their fabulous efforts and for undertaking these feats to the benefit of the BDWSA.

I know that some of our supporters are planning equally ambitious plans for fund raising events in the coming year, so good luck and thanks to everyone in advance for all their efforts.

If anyone else has any ideas or desire to put an event together and would like some encouragement, help or assistance please let us know.

Gordon Bloor