BUDE Rotary Club has donated a cheque to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution following the fantastic success of its annual ‘Duck Race’.

The event, which has become incredibly popular with locals, was hosted on August 26 in conjunction with Bude’s RNLI Lifeboat Weekend.

The event saw 4,000 rubber ducks, each sponsored by a resident dumped into Bude Canal to compete for the title spot and win their sponsor a prize.

This week, the club announced that the raise raised more than £1,700 for the lifesaving organisation, as well as other vital charitable projects based in and around Bude.

A spokesperson from Bude Rotary explained: “The net proceeds were divided equally between the RNLI, to support its vital work saving lives at sea through its search and rescue service, and the club itself to fund its wide programme of charitable activities and projects in and around Bude.”

A presentation took place at the town’s lifeboat station on November 17, attended by Rotary Club president Martin Yeo and treasurer Nigel Martin, Liam Sharpe, launch operation manager at the station, and local RNLI staff and crew members.

The club president said: “I and my colleagues are very pleased to be able to make this significant contribution to the RNLI and we want to thank sincerely the many local people and visitors to the town who so generously bought tickets for the race and also gave donations.”

The Rotary Club has expressed that it is looking to expand its membership in order to continue its support of local groups and organisations.

A spokesperson added: “The Rotary Club has a small but active group of members and it is seeking to increase its membership to help take its plans forward. It will welcome enquiries from anyone who would like to know more about its work and may wish to contribute.

“Those interested will be warmly encouraged to attend a meeting to learn more about the club and meet existing members. In the first instance they should contact Nigel Buse ([email protected]) for an informal chat.”