The first-ever Lincoln Flume waterslide has brought the learning disability charity, Linkage, more than £2,100 in support for its Boultham Park Capital Appeal.
This is one of three donations worth a total of some £5,300 which have been presented to the Appeal chairman, Philip Barnatt, by local organisations as businesses further increase their support. The Capital Appeal has a target of £250,000 to help match-fund the grant-aid from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Big Lottery Fun Parks for People initiative. The project to restore the Park is a joint venture by Linkage and the City of Lincoln Council, and includes plans for a café, greenhouse, education centre and regeneration of key areas and features of the 50-acre Park. Work is planned to start in 2016.
As part of its support, the Rotary Club of Lincoln Colonia invited Linkage to be a partner in the 2015 Lincoln Flume, a dramatic waterslide which flowed for 110 yards down Flaxengate in July. Hundreds of people entered an online lottery to bid for their place to slide down the water and foam in the first venture of its kind. The Flume will return on Sunday 17th July 2016, as part of Linkage’s 40th birthday celebrations.
Rotary Club President, Jo Owens, says: “It was a brilliant day – full of fun and laughter – and it was a huge team effort and we enjoyed working with Linkage so much that we want to do it again.”
Meanwhile last year’s President, Richard Wright, raised around £500 from activities during his term of office, which he has donated to the project.
Finally, the proceeds of the annual Mundys Golf Day this summer brought in £2,600. The event at Blankney Golf Club attracted some 32 teams.
Philip Barnatt says: “These are three terrific donations from businesses and the community, coming on the second anniversary of the date I launched the Capital Appeal. We are heading towards the next big fundraising event, the Lincoln Santa Fun Run, and a great result there will take us towards the £100,000 mark.”
The Lincoln Santa Fun Run takes place on Sunday 13th December, 11.30am, from Lincoln Castle. Details are available from www.lincolnsantafunrun.co.uk.