£1,860 raised for Cowes Sailability Club by Seaview-based Freemasons
Freemasons at Spithead Lodge, Seaview, named Cowes Sailability Club their ‘Charity of the Year 2023’ and raised £1,860.40 through raffles and other fundraising activities. The cheque was presented to Cowes Sailability Club Commodore, Roger Sutton, by Barry Elliott, Immediate Past Master of Spithead Lodge, at Cowes Sailability Club’s annual Fitting Out Supper.
Speaking at the event, Roger publicly thanked Barry and members of Spithead Lodge for their support. “Every penny really does count,” he said. “Your very generous donation will help Cowes Sailability Club to continue to offer accessible sailing and boating activities for the many adults and children on the Isle of Wight who live with disability.”
In his professional life, Barry is Bosun of the Royal London Yacht Club in Cowes. “When working on the water in Cowes, I often see groups of people with disabilities enjoying trips organised by Cowes Sailability Club,” he said. “It’s always really obvious to me how much everyone is enjoying themselves and what a great job the volunteers do. When I was asked to pick a ‘Charity of the Year’ for the Spithead Lodge, Cowes Sailability Club immediately came to mind.”
The money donated will be used to support Cowes Sailability Club’s weekly sailing and boating activities for members. Every Monday afternoon during the spring and summer months, people with a range of physical and learning disabilities and debilitating long term health issues meet in Cowes, at the Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club, to experience sailing and boating in a welcoming, accessible and supportive environment.