CLUBS AND SOCIETIES: Mice racing for Yeovil’s 41 Club is a hit!

MEMBERS of Yeovil's 41 Club - the veteran arm of the town's Round Table - staged a race night with a difference to raise money for poorly children.

The Mice Racing event, at Seavington village hall near Ilminster, raised £2,100 for the Round Table Children’s Wish charity which grants the wishes of children and young people with life-threatening illnesses.

Former club chairman, Chris Russell, who organised the event said: “Round Table Children's Wish is our dedicated charity and I wanted to raise some money for it in my chairman's year.

"The Harlequin Carnival Club offered to help us stage some mice racing.

"And while none of us had done it before and frankly didn't know what to expect, it was a great night, with lots of fun, good food and a fantastic amount of money raised."

PHOTO – TOP: Members of Yeovil’s 41 Club present £2,100 to Round Table Children’s Wish charity director Karen Winchcombe.

Mice Racing involves betting on one of six mice which are cheered on as they race along a walled, table-top track.

Chris said: "There were lots of mice used to make sure they weren't tired out and in each race a door would raise in the hope they would run towards a finish line.

"Unfortunately for me, most of those I backed turned around and ran back in the direction they had come from!"

He added: “We had great support on the night from local sponsors including Yeovil Ales and Mint Cabs and we were very pleased when the director of Round Table Children's Wish, Karen Winchcombe, came along to accept a cheque afterwards.

“Children from Somerset have had wishes granted by the charity in the past and it's lovely to know we will be helping to make more children's wishes come true.”

Round Table Children's Wish was launched by Round Table in 1990 and grants wishes that are handcrafted to the individual child.

Popular wishes include family holidays and trips to theme parks, meeting a favourite celebrity, and special toys.

Director Karen Winchcombe said: “Both the 41 Club and Round Table are huge supporters of Round Table Children's Wish and it was lovely to see the Yeovil guys and hear about their great fundraising evening. I don't think we have had a mouse racing event held for us before - but we are very grateful!”

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