Richmond Dales Amateur Swimming Club is benefiting from the fundraising efforts of a Richmond butcher.
Mick Kirk, owner of Angus Morton Butchers in Richmond Town Centre, has raised £1,565 over the past 12 months for the club and is committed to raising even more.
Mick and his team first got involved with Richmond Dales ASC after they discovered the club’s commitment to para swimming.
The club has developed a reputation as one of the country’s leading amateur swimming clubs for developing para-athletes and enjoys great success in this arena.
This is in addition to its reputation as one of the best all round amateur clubs in the country, having recently been awarded Swim England North East’s club of the year.
Mick said: “We’ve been supporting the Para swimmers from Richmond Dales ASC for about a year now. They are such an amazing group of people.
“Watching them train really puts things into perspective. The squad includes young people with impairments including amputees, cerebral palsy, short stature, intellectual impairments and many other conditions.
They swim length after length on their training days, and it’s just amazing what they achieve.”
Richmond Dales ASC, which is based out of Richmond Pool and Catterick Leisure centre, has broad provision for swimmers of all ages and abilities. The club enjoys regular mainstream success at county, regional and national level, and offers programmes for masters and para swimmers also.
Three para-athletes have been selected to swim as part of Swim England’s para swimming talent programme.
Several other members of the para squad will also be heading to Portugal shortly to participate in a specialist development programme.
The club has recently welcomed the next generation of young para swimmers to the club thanks to it’s successful Start Para scheme, a programme supported by Swim England North East.
Keith Hall, Richmond Dales ASC board member and para coach, said: “The para swimming programme at Richmond Dales ASC is one of the best of its kind in the country, and this is in no small part to the fundraising efforts of generous benefactors like Mick at Angus Morton, as well as other fantastic donors.
“Training the next generation of para swimmers is a privilege, but it is also costly.
“Our para-athletes require specialist equipment and a high ratio of coaches to swimmers. That’s why fundraising for the para squads is one of our top priorities, because we want to ensure that each athlete in the programme has everything they need to fulfil their potential.”
