We started fundraising in earnest in Summer 2002. Our first deposit in the bank account came from bag packing at the Co-Op, and also Thandi, a great friend who ran in the Hoy half marathon for us, raising over £100. We had a stall at the East Mainland Show, one of Orkney’s famous agricultural fairs, where we had face-painting, flung wet sponges at youth workers (we got our own back though), had a penalty shoot out, guessed the weight of the cake (which was donated by Colin from the Pomona Café & had a fantastic picture of the Swan painted on it), & generally got hungry & sunburned. Many days of baking for car boot sales followed, as well as some more bag-packing sessions at the local Co-Op. We circulated quiz sheets at 50p a go, and someone had a treasure map of the North Sea where you guessed where the treasure was hidden. Great fun was had at our fund-raising concert in November, where many of our young folk showed their talents of dancing & playing piano & fiddle. We were well supported by many local groups, who gave their time & talents freely. The concert raised funds for both the Swan voyage and the club itself, and we were also able to donate a sum to Children in Need. In early December, three of our intrepid Dads donned drag gear & went out round the Kirkwall pubs. We couldn’t believe it when they came back with £540! We think they’re now considering a career change….. Safeways let us in to bag-pack on the 30th & 31st of December, where we raised a massive £3000. Taking all the change to the bank was a bit hard on the back; any more & we’d have had to borrow a Safeway’s trolley. Bell’s Nautical Trust have given us £1000 towards our costs, so thanks to their board of trustees., and Orkney Sea Farms have donated £200, thanks also to them. We now only have a few hundred to raise.