29th October 2023
Hammer comes down on charity networking auction
BNi Read SwimTayka Auction. A crack of dawn auction to raise money for Swindon-based charity SwimTayka netted £350 when more than a dozen lots went under the hammer.
Long-standing Swindon-based networking group BNi Read hosted the event. The group meets every Wednesday for breakfast, and has been running for 20 years.
Members of the group donated wrapped auction items. They then held a ‘blind’ auction, with people bidding up for the mystery lots. They only had cryptic clues to go on.
The star lot was a bespoke children’s table in the shape of a fish.Craftsman Ioan Frantugu, who runs RQ Carpentry made it for the auction. Auctioneer was Andy Rhoades, of ABR Safety, who swapped his hard hat for a gavel.
Where the money will go
The funds raised will go to SwimTayka. SwimTayka runs swimming and drowning prevention programmes in underserved areas around the world, to help combat the high incidence of drowning.
Bryan Avery, SwimTayka founder and a member of BNi Read, said he felt so delighted the event went so well.
‘I’m so grateful to all my fellow members of BNi Read who donated items for sale and then bid on them. SwimTayka is an organisation devoted to providing swimming and environmental education to underprivileged communities. Andy shared a touching anecdote about the importance of the skill of swimming, adding emotional weight to the proceedings. While the focus was on fundraising, the personal stories and genuine passion for the cause added layers of depth to the event.’
An added bonus for Bryan was that he had a successful bid on Ioan’s table, which he’ll gift to his grandchildren.
He commented: ‘A hearty thanks are in order for all those who woke up early, readied their bidding paddles, and contributed to the SwimTayka cause. It’s not every day that you attend an auction at the crack of dawn. But the BNi Read chapter proved that community spirit knows no time constraints.’
The BNi Read chapter
BNi Read meets for breakfast at The Village Hotel, Shaw Ridge, Swindon, on Wednesdays, and is recruiting new members.
For more information visit, https://bni-wiltshire.co.uk/wiltshire-read-bni-(west-swindon)/en-GB/index.
For more about SwimTayka, https://swimtayka.org/
