Charity benefits from local club’s fundraiser

EARLIER this month, a Northside club handed over a cheque to a well-known charity from a fundraising event it held in August.

Event hosts Sutton Dinghy Club, together with the GP14 Class Association of Ireland, chose to use the occasion of the Craftinsure GP14 Championship of Ireland to raise funds for Make-A-Wish Ireland.

The three-day event attracted 52 boats and crews from across Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and the UK.

Three times Irish Olympic representative Ger Owens and his crew Melanie Morris won the championship in style.

In superb conditions the fleet enjoyed great racing and exceptionally close competition. The contribution and support of the many members and volunteers as well as the numerous event sponsors helped make for a hugely successful and enjoyable event on and off the water.

This fundraising effort by the competing sailors, their families, visitors and club members helped raise e4,218 for Make-a-Wish Ireland.

On November 14, Make-A-Wish Ireland representative Martina Madden visited Sutton Dinghy Club to accept the cheque for e4,218 from the club’s Commodore, Andy Johnston.

The end of season evening was arranged to thank the club’s many local sponsors and partners as well as to pass on the proceeds to Make-A-Wish Ireland from the hugely successful fundraising effort.

The evening was also attended by Stephen Boyle representing the GP14 Class Association and Ciaran Murphy of the Irish Sailing Association (ISA), along with representatives of some of the club’s sponsors.

Commodore Andy Johnston thanked event organiser Hugh Gill and his team for the huge effort in not only staging a successful sailing event but their innovative efforts to supporting such a deserving cause as Make-A-Wish Ireland.

In addition, he thanked the many local sponsors and partners who contributed generously towards running the event.

Make-A-Wish Ireland’s Martina Madden thanked the club and GP14 Class Association for their decision to select Make-A-Wish Ireland as the event’s charity of choice and applauded the efforts of sailors, volunteers, members and sponsors in helping raise such a fantastic amount for a worthy cause.

Event updates and photos from the event are available on the Club’s Blog ‘Still Racing Dinghies in Sutton Creek’ http://sdc.ie/sdcblog