FRIENDS of Bude Sea Pool (FoBSP) are celebrating success after winning a bonus £2,000 plus a share of £100,000 thanks to a tyre firm's generosity.
The voluntary group, which is working to save the sea pool in Bude, won not only the regional vote which took place at Greenaways Tyres, but also managed to tie the voting with para-athlete Meggan Dawson-Farrell for the national prize – decided by online votes.
Originally, the winner of the Kumho Tyres' Cash for Causes online vote was to receive a national grand prize of £2,000 with the runner-up receiving an additional £1,000. However, in light of both Bude and Meggan tying for first place, Kumho Tyres decided to top up the prize fund, awarding both parties £2,000.
The Cash for Causes initiative saw the tyre firm give away more than £100,000 to deserving local charities through its ECSTA Performance Centre network of independent tyre retail partners.
FoBSP chairman Paul Tilzey said: "We're delighted to have secured this cash for Bude's historic sea pool.
"We saved the pool from demolition last year but it's a long way from being permanently secure. We need to raise around £30,000 for important restoration work in 2013, and this contribution is really helpful. So we'd like to thank everyone at Kumho, and our local garage, Greenaways Tyres who nominated us, and all our supporters who voted for us."
"Awards like this mean we can keep the pool open and free for everyone to enjoy.",
Tom Arscott, depot manager at Greenaways Tyres, added: " After funding cuts last year, it would be a shame to see the pool go to waste. and FoBSP works so hard to fundraise – we just wanted to help them out."
