A CIRENCESTER gymnastic group held a fundraising event at Deer Park School last month to help realise its dream of having a permanent own home.

Cotswolds Gymnastics Club, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, currently uses the sports hall at Deer Park School to train and prior to that used facilities at Kingshill School.

The fundraising event on Saturday, was organised to help the group raise £175,000 to refurbish a building on Love Lane in the town, so it can become their first real home.

A spokesman for the group said online: “We would like to thank everyone who also supported this event with so many stalls and other activities to take part in, this raising a massive amount of money towards our fundraising activities, a final amount will be posted on the website in the coming days.”

Sally Woodley, who is helping with the fundraising project, said: “We need the cash so we can transform the hall into a state where we can use it .

“We are also desperate for exposure, I do not really think that a lot of people, know we exist.”

Throughout the event, the group held a club championships for youngsters and there were stalls selling a variety of items such as cakes and arts and crafts.

As part of the fundraising drive, gymnasts from the group will be taking part in a sponsored bag pack at Kings Meadow Tesco on Saturday.

The club recently applied to British Gymnastics for funding towards the club’s own premises but were unsuccessful.

Cotswold Gymnastics Club is a recreational gymnastics club for all ages and abilities, ranging from pre-school to adult.

Email committee@cotswoldgymnastics.co.uk If you wish to donate towards the fund and www.cotswoldgymnastics.co.uk for more information on the group.