Grant boost for sports project

A project to provide a new hammer and discus cage at Diss sports ground has nearly reached its target with �13,824 raised so far, and �3,300 to go.

A project to provide a new hammer and discus cage at Diss sports ground has nearly reached its target with �13,824 raised so far, and �3,300 to go.

Diss and District Athletic Club was delighted to receive this week a grant of �5,000 from Norfolk Community Foundation Grassroots Fund towards the purchase and installation of a throws cage. It will allow athletes and the wider community to once again enjoy an aspect of athletics that had been denied them for the past year.

Following health and safety advice, the club had to remove the hammer and discuss throwing facility at its training ground in Shelfanger Road. The equipment had served the club well for many years, producing many county and national champions under the excellent coaching skills of Reg Wright.

The cost of replacing the old equipment with a new approved throws cage is about �17,000. This at first seemed like an impossible mountain to climb for a small club. However, it is thrilled to announce that it has received substantial funding to help replace the equipment so desperately required.

In August last year, a grant of �8,824.00 was received from 'Awards For All', part of the National Lottery Fund. With this, the club could now afford the net cost of the cage, but had to find the Vat and the total cost of installation.

Last week, Norfolk Community Foundation came to the rescue and topped up the fund by adding another �5,000 to it.

Barry Palmer, the club's head coach, said: in these challenging disciplines.'

Head coach, Barry Palmer, said: 'The club was overjoyed, but we still have to raise the balance of just over �3,000 to be able to complete the project. Once completed, we will organise a 'Have a Go, Come and Throw' session where a past county champion will be invited to demonstrate the skills and then an opportunity will be given to everyone, athletes as well as the local community to try throwing the hammer and discus.'

It is a very challenging, yet exciting, moment for the club. The members are busy trying to raise funds by holding raffles, naming bears, running cake stalls and doing other sponsored events and other activities.

Anyone wishing to assist in reaching their target is asked to contact either Joanne Palmer on 01379 853144 or Veronica Manly on 01379 677231.