Gone Sailing - May 2008

May 2008

	Dear Kate In this issue, we continue our look at the people involved in the Pontoon Project by telling you about Elephante who have designed the lift. We also focus on fundraising with an exciting challenge for you to help raise the final much needed funds to make this project happen. Best wishes The Pontoon Project
	A Lift From Elephante Elephante is the company that we have chosen to design and manufacture the lift that will provide vital access to the pontoon for the disabled sailors. With a worldwide client base, Elephante is based in Cheshire and is one of the few British lift manufacturers in the UK. The company has been associated with lifts since 1972 and is still run by the members of the family that founded the company. The company is very much a family business, and this approach underlines their attitude to business. Michael Bate originally owned an earth moving equipment and excavator-work company but decided that he wanted to branch out into a different area. Having bought a company who hired out tower cranes, he came across a small Italian designed winch and became its sole importer. He also developed the product into a full range of winches. The winch was called the Elephant winch and so came the name ‘Elephante'. Michael and his son, Stephen, moved into manufacturing and, in 1990, were approached to design and manufacture a bespoke lift. This was their entry into the permanently installed lift market. The Pontoon Project chose Elephante for their innovative bespoke designs, their expertise, and their experience. The lift will make a real difference to the sailing experience for our sailors.
	The 2008 Plan Challenge - How Can You Help? We are challenging each of you to raise £200 to buy a pontoon plank! As an added incentive, everyone who raises £200 will be entered into a prize draw. There will also be a special prize for the person who raises the most money. More details of this challenge will appear in the next issue of Gone Sailing, but now's the time to start thinking of fundraising ideas. How about hosting a dinner party, cheese and wine evening, or tea party and charging your guests a donation? Maybe your local pub would hold a quiz event, an Aunt Sally tournament or a karaoke night. Schools and work places could have dress down days or pamper evenings. Your local gym might be prepared to put on a sponsored swim or an aerobathon. You could also sell your unwanted clothes, toys, books and other items at a car boot sale or on ebay (they have a ‘sell for charity' link). You could even hold a ‘Swap Shop' where you invite all your friends to bring and swap their unwanted ‘stuff' and charge them an entry fee. Start planning now! Brainstorm some ideas and list all your contacts who can help and who you can approach for sponsorship or a donation. Get creative and remember, you can make a real difference to the Pontoon Project. Many thanks to Terry Thomas who has recently donated the money to buy a plank.
	Other Fundraising News One of our generous benefactors is the Doris Field Charitable Trust. The Trust supports a variety of projects in Oxfordshire, contributing much needed grants to the capital costs of charitable projects. This year, they have donated £5k to us as the second part of their three year commitment to the Pontoon Project. We offer them our sincere thanks. We would also like to thank the Oxfordshire Chamber of Commerce for making us their President's Charity of the Year for 2008. If you have any fundraising ideas that the project team could put into action, then we would love to hear from you. Also, please let us know if you work for a company such as Musto, Helly Hansen, or a boat building company who might be interested in making a donation to the Pontoon Project. And Finally… We are pleased to announce that Oxford Sailability members are back on the water. If you would like to get involved as a helper, please come along to Farmoor Reservoir on a Tuesday evening from 5.30pm onwards. It's great fun and very sociable.