A band of hard-working volunteers from Ventnor Rugby Club became caterers for the day when their Watcombe Bottom base was selected as an official marshalling point for the Isle of Wight Randonnee on Sunday.
More than a thousand cyclists took advantage of the facilities and refreshments available at the club. The group’s leader, Roly Toombs, would especially like to thank Morrisons in Lake for somehow producing an extra 700 bread rolls and 200 hot cross buns on Friday night!
£500 donations to two causes
From the proceeds, donations of £250 have been pledged to each of two charities, namely St Catherine’s in Ventnor and to the Mermaid Atlantic campaign which – among other aims – hopes to raise awareness to the damaging effects of plastics in our oceans and for the environmental benefits of seagrass.
As a focus point to this campaign, Islanders Paul Berry, Xavier Baker and Chris Mannion will take part in next year’s Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge in which 30 rowing boat crews will race across 3000 nautical miles from the Canary Islands to the Caribbean.
Graves: Donations such as this are so important
On behalf of St Catherine’s, Susan Graves, Fundraising and Marketing Manager said,
“We would like to thank Ventnor Rugby Club for their kind donation of £250 to support the students at St Catherine’s who have speech, language and communications needs.
“Donations such as this are so important as they help us buy specialist equipment to support our students.”
Image: Ventnor RFC Randonnee Volunteers (L-R) Roly Toombs, Karen Macey, Kay Engelgardt, Warren Riches, Archie Tyler, Indra James, Bob Engelgardt, Steve Macey and Angie Newbery with Evie and Finn in front
