1st August 2012

SIDMOUTH: Lions' duck race events raise £4,600 for charity

Sidmouth Lions have been celebrating after more than £4,600 was raised by this year’s duck derby events.

This year, the corporate duck race raised £1,867 for charity, with a number of local businesses and organisations taking part. Introduced by the Lions eleven years ago, the race has been popular from its inception and the prize money is now divided into first, second and third prizes, thereby giving more companies the opportunity to donate a share of the race proceeds to charity.

This year the first prize of £900 was won by Toucan Property Services. Toucan proprietors, Graham and Alexa Baker, have chosen to donate £450 of their prize money to Axe Vale Canoe Club, an entirely voluntary organisation which teaches children and adults canoeing and kayaking whilst also providing activity days for local schools, colleges, and groups. The other £450 will be donated to ‘Brothers On Bikes’, two local brothers who are cycling from John O’Groats to Lands End in August to raise money for Sidmouth Hospice Care, Devon Hospice Care and Cancer Research UK.

The second prize of £550 was won by Sidmouth Garden Centre. Proprietor of the Garden Centre, Ian Barlow, is giving all £550 to the Sidmouth Youth Trust, which aims to operate and run The Arches youth project on Sidmouth seafront.

The third prize of £400 was won by the Riviera Hotel, Sidmouth and owner, Peter Wharton, will be donating £200 to Children’s Hospicecare South West, and £200 to the RNLI.

The corporate duck race charity cheques were presented to the winners last Monday at Sidmouth Garden Centre by Sidmouth Lions President, Graham Rossiter.

Lion, Chris Rignall commented: “It would not have been possible to raise this amount of money for charity without the extraordinary generosity of local residents and people visiting Sidmouth in the month prior to the duck derby.

“Sidmouth Lions Club would therefore like to publicly thank all the supporters of the duck derby, and especially proprietors of local hotels, pubs and businesses for allowing lions to sell duck tickets on their premises.

We are absolutely delighted with the duck race results this year and would also like to thank the local business organisations that participated in this year's corporate duck race.”

All money raised from this years duck derby activities will support DIRECT the Exeter based Diabetes Research and Education Centre Trust, alongside Sidmouth Lions community service and charity activities.

PICTURE: CORORATE DUCK WINNERS - (l to r) Darren Knapman (Sidmouth Garden Centre); Lion President Graham Rossiter presenting the red orporate uck race winner award to Graham Baker, and Peter Wharton, proprietor of Riviera Hotel

SIDMOUTH: Lions' duck race events raise £4,600 for charity

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