BESA (the Building Engineering Services Association) has boosted the funding of the Sailfree initiative at Otley Sailing Club in West Yorkshire.

Andrew Hudson of G&H Sustainability, chairman of BESA Yorkshire, presented a cheque for £2,000 — the proceeds of a raffle that took place during the Yorkshire Region's Annual Ball in Harrogate — in support of the initiative.

Sailfree operates under the national umbrella of Sailability, the charitable arm of the Royal Yachting Association, which provide sailing experiences to people with all types of disabilities and illnesses, giving them the chance to enjoy the freedom and independence that are not normally available to them.

Year on year, Otley Sailing Club provides around 1000 volunteer-run sessions.

Mr Hudson said: 'The BESA Yorkshire Region and the many companies supporting our event were delighted to be able to assist in the valuable work undertaken by Sailfree.'

RYA Sailability representative John Carberry said: 'We are extremely grateful for any financial support we receive. Sailfree can't survive without donations, and to have the continued support from the BESA Yorkshire Region is fantastic.'

Pictured right: BESA Yorkshire chairman Andrew Hudson (right) with (left) Sailfree volunteer Norman Stephens.