PLYMOUTH Leander Swimming Club has launched a crowdfunding appeal to help them through the coronavirus crisis.
The club’s swimmers – from elite athletes to youngsters starting out – returned to the pool in August for the first time since the March lockdown. Training has now been stopped again for at least another four weeks.
As well as battling the Covid-19 disruption, the club is facing the added blow of the Life Centre being closed for repairs until April next year. As a result, Leander has been forced to hire pool time elsewhere to get its swimmers back in the water – this after months without any income.
Plymouth Leander’s development officer Neil Tremayne said returning to the pool has been a drain on resources.
“We have been incurring extra costs to ensure swimmers are following all Covid-19 guidance from Swim England and the government,” he said.
“The closure of the Life Centre has also meant we have had to source pool time from other providers at a higher cost.
“We have also lost our access to our only 50m training facilities meaning we have to travel to a number of other venues all of which cost much more than we have paid previously.
The club has appealed to its members to support the campaign and in just five days has raised more than £5,000.
It’s now hoping the wider community may be able to help the appeal towards their £20,000 target and the match-funding which has been promised, which will ensure the long-term future of the club.
The club’s fundraising page can be found HERE.