Yateley Swimming Club for the Disabled

Hi my name is Mark “Alfie” Bennett and I’m hoping to raise money by walking all of the 184 miles of the Thames Path, this will start at the Cotswolds and finish at the Thames Barrier. I’m aiming to complete this walk in 14 days. Starting on Thursday 23rd May.

The monies raised will go to a non profit making organisation. This organisation is called Yateley Swimming & Social Club for the Disabled.

The treasurer Joyce Fisher, has said a few words below.

Yateley Swimming and Social Club for Disabled. The club has been going since before I joined in 1979. The club was thriving before the dreaded lockdown. After this our membership dropped as people were afraid to continue however membership is increasing slowly but we need more people to continue. Please look at our Facebook page Yateley Disabled Swimming Group to find out more.

Mark “Alfie” Bennett has been a great support to our club over many years. Please help Alfie in his personal challenge together with helping him raise much needed funds for this community swimming group which encourages people of all ages with any type of disability and not only people who are registered. Come and enjoy swimming in a safe and friendly environment.

Joyce Fisher.

Joyce is the treasurer of Yateley Swimming and Social Club for the Disabled. What Joyce hasn’t mentioned is that she and her late husband, Arthur, (both very dear friends of mine) and many others, have given up there time to help others in organising, not just the swimming and social events, but the overall of running the club.

Joyce mentioned to me that the hoist alone, which assists people getting in and out of the pool is £8900.00 on its own, it has to be replaced every 7 years and it’s now due for renewal, the last one purchased by the club was £4500.00 so an increase of nearly 50%, which clearly has a knock on effect. Every week they have also to pay for 2 life guards and now money is getting short.

I met Arthur and Joyce around 30 years ago and since then, to me and many others, Yateley Swimming and Social Club for the disabled has been a very special, non profit organisation. It would be lovely to see the club grow, so with that said and on the 1st anniversary of Arthur’s passing, I’ve decided to walk the full length of the Thames path, this was after speaking with Joyce and hearing that the club was struggling.

New members are always welcome but in the meantime I’m hoping to raise as much as I can to help the club reach their goal and secure their future. Obviously I’m hoping to raise whatever I can and I’d be very grateful for any donation received no matter how big or small. Thanks for taking the time to read this as this club needs to continue not just for the current members, but new members and the community.

Mark “Alfie” Bennett.