NEWS FEED
Funds for local charities are again being raised by the Great Dorset Steam Fair by offering steam powered trailer rides around the heavy haulage arena during the event.
Every year at the Great Dorset Steam Fair, which takes place from 25th – 29th August 2016, the charity trailer rides offer a unique opportunity to experience the might and power of the heavy haulage steam traction engines while raising money for worthy causes.
Last year, £15,297 was raised for MacMillan Cancer Support and The Alfie O’Neill Cerebral Palsy Treatment Fund. This year, organisers have chosen to support Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and The Blandford Opportunity Group.
Since launching in 2000, Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance has flown more than 11,500 missions. The average cost per mission is approximately £2,500 and the crew can attend up to eight or nine incidents in a single day during the summer. They receive no direct funding and rely entirely on the generosity of the public for support.
Blandford Opportunity Group is a preschool for children from birth to 5 years who have been identified as having additional needs. They take children from all over Dorset, mostly from Blandford and the surrounding villages. Each child has one to one adult support to deliver programmes of therapy. It costs around £54,000 a year to run the group, but only around £18,000 is supplied through statutory and special needs funding.
A steam powered trailer ride around the magnificent heavy haulage arena will cost £2 per adult and £1 for children, with all proceeds going to these nominated charities. The trailer rides commence at 10am daily and can be found at the gates by the top and bottom corners of the heavy haulage arena.
