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CHARITIES
Tractor enthusiasts dig deep to help others
Flashback to 2020 – some of the charities who benefited from last year’s pre-pandemic event
orGANISErS of the annual Somerset Vintage and Classic Tractor Show have donated more than £10,000 to charity – even though Covid-19 prevented them from having an event this year. Committee members nominated their favourite charities to benefit and were each given £1,500 to donate. dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and Time is Precious each received £3,000 (some
From pristine condition to those in need of some tlc – the show organisers welcome all exhibits
committee members are partners), whilst Great Western Air Ambulance, Cots for Tots and Hot rock Carnival Club were granted £1,500. The two-day event at the royal Bath and West Showground attracts thousands of visitors to admire the displays of vehicles, with a different manufacturer showcased each year. Tom Vailes, one of the team, said: “It
became clear last year that we would be unable to hold a show in 2021 but we have always supported various charities and felt it was important to carry on doing so. “over the years, we’ve managed to build up some reserves in the bank. Everyone is struggling at present and we are delighted to be able to do a little bit to help.”
Lockdown hampers Channel swim preparations
SIAN Andrews, a children’s nanny from Long Ashton, is planning to swim the English Channel as part of a relay team to raise money for Aspire, a charity which helps people with spinal injuries. But lockdown has hampered her preparations, with swimming pools shut and travel restrictions stopping her usual trips with friends to swim in the sea at Clevedon or in Henleaze Lake in Bristol. Instead she’s been using a family’s ten-metre backyard pool for her training, saying: “It feels so much colder on your own, without the banter which takes your mind off it.” She decided to support Aspire after watching a short video on their website about the channel swim. Her own father, who had been an army PT instructor, had severe problems later in life. She said: “Tears starting rolling down my cheeks. I became very emotional, but couldn't understand why. I knew in that moment I wanted to aim for it, never believing I would actually pass the medical, and swim assessments.” She says she’s in her 50s, only 156cm and overweight. Having passed all of the tests so far, she now faces three more mandatory swims at dover to be accepted for the channel swim from July 11-16th. Teams of six are expected to take up to 24 hours to make the crossing, with each member swimming for an hour in turn. Sian said: “We hope to average 3kms an hour and I may
Sian (left) with a friend, Rachael Adorisio, at Clevedon last November
have to swim two or three times. This is such a worthwhile cause. How health can be impacted in an instant is what I learned from living through the New Zealand earthquakes. one minute you’re fine and dandy, the next . . . who knows?”
Details: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/sian-andrews15 • www.aspire.org.uk
MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2021 • PAGE 53
