The Rye Harbour Sailing Club’s (RHSC) branch of Sailability, newly launched this summer, is holding a Charity Auction and three-course dinner at The George in Rye on Friday November 24. The RHSC Sailability fundraiser will be held in the main ballroom of the hotel. Tickets cost £28.50 each, available from the organiser in advance.
Helping people with disabilities experience the fun and freedom of sailing, the Rye branch of this national charity took to the water in August. This first sail was attended by a number of local organisations and charities, including Hastings and Rother Disabilities Forum and Spotlight YOPD.
“This is a fantastic initiative and the facilities at the Club are impressive,” says Gaynor Edwards, Founder of Spotlight YOPD (a charity representing those with Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease). “I felt confident and comfortable with the friendly and experienced skipper and will be delighted to promote this to other young people with Parkinson’s.”
In order for this project to float the team at RHSC raised £110k (including £30k from Rother District Council Community Grants). The funds have been used to build new changing rooms with facilities providing access for people with disabilities. These were formally opened in July by The Rt Hon Amber Rudd, MP for Hastings and Rye.
In addition, The Rye Community Shop Fund kindly donated just over £1,000 to enable RHSC Sailability to buy 21 buoyancy aids.
Over the past few months, a huge amount of effort has gone into upgrading our facilities at RHSC for people with disabilities.
Businesses from Rye and further afield have given their support to the Charity Auction by offering some very generous donations. Kevin Wall from Rye Auction Galleries will preside over the evening with 50 lots going under the hammer.
Auction lots include a flight for three people for one-hour; the use of a Landrover Discovery for the weekend and a night at the Mermaid Inn in Rye.
“Funds raised from the Auction will enable us to make sailing accessible to all,” says Caroline. “We are so grateful to all the businesses and individuals who have donated lots and encourage people to buy tickets to what promises to be an entertaining evening.”
Tickets are available on a first come first served basis by calling 01797 223112 or emailing: carolinewylson@btinternet.com
Photo: RHSC