Olympics chasing cash help

BUSINESSES and investors are being urged to sponsor the upcoming Saddleworth Village Olympics to help the event go for gold rather than fall at the first hurdle.

The annual competition, which sees almost 1,000 youngsters from the seven Saddleworth villages compete in a range of sports including rounders, basketball, swimming and athletics for three weeks in September, is now coming into its 27th year, but the event will struggle to run as usual if organisers fail to meet the £12,000 costs.

In previous years, the SVO has received support from Saddleworth Round Table, district partnership and rotary clubs, with a hefty donation being made from the proceeds of the beer walk.

But as organisations tighten their purse strings, and with the beer walk being cancelled for the second year in a row, organisers must find alternative means of fund-raising.

Steve Bradley, publicity manager for the SVO, said: “The event is struggling for money. It is a fantastic event, and it gives 1,000 children three fantastic weeks of sport. We have great links with all the local sports clubs, so after the event we can keep the children involved all year round.

“But it does cost a lot to run. Because most of the money from Saddleworth Round Table came from the beer walk, there is a massive hole in our finances.

“The children pay £5 to compete every year and we want to get as many people involved as possible, but we have got to find the money from somewhere.

“It might be that we have to charge them more to cover the costs, which we really don’t want to do and it would defeat the object.

“The SVO will go ahead, it’s just a case of what form it will take if we don’t meet our target.

“So we’re on the lookout for local sponsors and businesses who would be proud to have their name attached to the event, which is one of the most successful local sporting events in the country year on year.

“What we do is for the children. We don’t want to let them down.”

Anyone who would wish to contribute the event, should contact Steve on 07919-861 469.