Steam Packet Company passengers have raised a fantastic ?5,472.13 for the Manx Grand Prix Helicopter Fund.

The annual collection is carried out by crew members from the Ben-my-Chree and the Manannan during the Manx Grand Prix period, and the team is keen to express their thanks to passengers for their donations towards the 2012 collection.

During the recent cheque presentation, Bob Taylor, Chairman of the MGP Supporters’ Club which administers the Fund, said: ‘The MGP Helicopter Fund relies totally on donations and, once again, we are extremely grateful to the travelling public for their incredible generosity and also to the crews of both vessels for organising the collection.’

IOM Steam Packet Company Sales Development Manager Brian Convery added: ‘The crew on board both vessels always look forward to helping with the collections during the crossings and the travelling public have again been very generous in helping to raise such a large and important amount for this vital fund.’

For more information about the MGP Supporters’ Club and the Helicopter Fund, visit: http://www.manxgrandprix.org/support.html.

Photo from l-r - Steam Packet’s Brian Convery, Ales Neuwirt, Chris Brown, Paul Turton and Bob Taylor of the MGP Supporters Club.