THE Rotary Club of Farnham has donated a sizeable share of the £10,000 proceeds of this year’s charity Cyclathon to homelessness charity Step-by-Step.

Despite picking the worst weather of the winter, 34 teams braved the snow to take part in the exercise bike race at the Maltings in March. Donations so far, with Gift Aid, will exceed £10,000.

The principal charities to benefit from the Rotary Benevolent Fund this year were End Polio Now, Step by Step, and Phyllis Tuckwell. Farnham Hospital will also receive a contribution to a defibrillator.

The money given to End Polio Now will be matched ‘two for one’ by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. This is in addition to the £2,000 generated by the club’s Maltings showing of ‘Breathe’.

Step by Step, an Aldershot-based charity working to empower young people and prevent homelessness, will receive £4,000.

Club president Paul Fry said: “We are delighted to have raised £4,000 for Step-by-Step which helps young people turn despair into hope and then helps them gain the life and work skills to turn that hope into reality.

“A distinctive feature of Rotary clubs is that practical service in our community, friendship and fundraising have equal importance in the life of the club.

“We are delighted to raise substantial sums for use by local and international charities but our work volunteering and running events and competitions with schools, colleges and disability organisations is where we really live out our motto ‘Service above Self’.”

The club thanked those who sponsored the event and entering teams; namely Castles Estate Agents, Farnham Herald, Farnham Town Council, Farnham Furnishers, Hoppa, and MCA Associates.

In 2018 the club of Farnham introduced the concept of ‘charter’ entries whereby charities could use the Cyclathon to raise money for themselves. Thus, the Friends of Farnham Hospital collected money that will be used to provide a 70th birthday party of the NHS for patients and staff. Abbeyfield will use their donations to create a scented garden and Weydon School will fund three school trips.

Anyone interested in taking part in the 2019 event should email [email protected].