At the recent Southern 100 Annual Dinner attended by nearly 150 people and held at the Best Western Palace Hotel & Casino, a total of £1300.00 was handed over during the evening by way of donations and a ‘spot auction’ - all monies going to the Southern 100 Helicopter Fund.
Club President Derek Nicholson announced during a welcoming speech that he had been handed three cheque's at the pre-dinner reception as guests and friends of the ‘
friendly races’ arrived.
One was for £600.00 from the Rev. John Coldwell on behalf of the
www.roadracingsupporters.com, who produce an annual calendar and hold a photographic exhibition at St Ninian’s during the TT and Manx Grand Prix Festivals bringing the total presented during the past twelve months to £1,400.00. The proceeds raised from the exhibition and calendar are split between the Southern 100 Helicopter Fund and two other racing based charities on the Isle of Man.
Another cheque for £250.00 from Tricia Claque who has raised similar amounts over a number of years, designing, making and selling hand-made greetings cards - many featuring racing scenes from around Billown. Tricia’s late husband Gordon was very much involved with the races and assisted as a young lad at the first Southern 100 in 1955.
A further £200.00 came from the Castletown Commissioners workmen, who again make an annual donation to the fund, saving money weekly.
Later on during a break in the evening, Gary Cregeen, Sales Manager of Manx Gas, who are title sponsors for both the Solo and Sidecar Championship Races at the Southern 100 held a brief auction for a day out at the Manx Gas Hospitality Venue at the TT Races, which was quickly snapped up by a Castletown resident for £250.00.
Southern 100 Racing are extremely indebted to all the above for their continued support of the vital Rescue Helicopter service at the Southern 100 Races on the Billown Course and also to the support received during the year from other people and organisations.