A CHARITY fundraising group has handed out another £10,000 to local organisations and sports clubs.
For the past 48 years, Barnard Castle-based The Clique has been raising funds in innovative and fun ways to support good causes and individuals in Teesdale, handing out more than £150,000 in that time.
On Saturday at their annual presentation evening at Barnard Castle Workingmen’s Club they handed out an impressive £10,000 to 18 organisations.
The Clique chairman Matthew Croom said: “Our fundraising through the year has been successful again. The bed push remains one of the popular events and our It’s a Knockout goes from strength to strength.”
He added funds had been boosted by individuals carrying out their own challenges including Colin Watson, who walked just shy of 4,000 miles in a year, and Jack Dark who did a sponsored bike ride.
He added: “This year golf captain Geoff Wall nominated us to be his chosen charity and he managed to raise £3,000 for us.
“It has been an all-round effort and it would not be possible without the support of everyone in Teesdale.”
Teesdale Opportunities for Youngsters with Disabilities (TODYS) were presented with a bumper cheque for £1,500 while cheques for £500 were given out to Staindrop Scouts, Middleton and Teesdale Silver Band, Barnard Castle Band, Tiger Sharks, Barnard Castle Golf Club, the town’s table tennis club and junior football club, Barney FC, tennis club, rugby club, boxing club, cricket club, Middleton-in-Teesdale Cricket Club juniors, Raby Castle Cricket Club, Teesdale Special Olympics, the Maia Mouse Foundation and Barnard Castle Scouts.
In addition, during the year the big-hearted fundraisers also handed over £4,050 to a variety of good causes including sponsoring a prostate cancer screening event, as well as funding and maintaining a fleet of 23 wheelchairs and mobility scooters, loaned out for free to residents in need.
Prior to the presentation a short video paying tribute to former members of The Clique who have died was screened and there was a minute’s silence.
