Team Isle of Man competitors at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow will have a little reminder of home thanks to pupils at The Buchan School. Children have been working hard to create gift bags made from Manx tartan with unique mementoes for all of the 46 members of the national squad, and managers, coaches, and officials who support the team. The bags contain a scallop shell and stone which pupils collected from the beach, a tartan brooch, and a personalized bookmark with a ‘good luck’ message written in Manx.
The gift bags were presented at a special assembly held a few weeks ago. It was attended by Juliet Holt, President of the Isle of Man Commonwealth Games Association (IOMCGA), Trevor Taubman, national team manager at Glasgow 2014, and TT star and Team Isle of Man Ambassador Conor Cummins. IOMCGA is the registered charity responsible for the publicity, fundraising, travel, and support for our national team’s participation at the Commonwealth Games. The gifts bags were kept secret from Team Isle of Man competitors until they arrived in Glasgow to find the mementos in their accommodation at the athletes’ village.
Prior to the Glasgow Games beginning, children and staff at the school also presented cheques from two fundraising events. One for ?650 was a combined total raised from a junior triathlon organised by the school, and a dress down day in which children paid a fee to attend school in sports kit. The second cheque for ?2,731.75 was raised from a Team Triathlon event sponsored by Microgaming. June Collister, from the Manx Triathlon Club, helped organise the triathlon events along with Neil MacGregor who is Head of Prep at The Buchan School and a Team Isle of Man Ambassador. All of the funds will go to IOMCGA which relies on donations and fundraising events to support Team Isle of Man’s participation at the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Youth Games.
Juliet Holt thanked everyone who contributed to such magnificent fundraising totals, and added:
“As a registered charity IOMCGA relies heavily on the generosity of volunteers who donate their time and effort to raise funds, so we are always grateful for such generous donations. But we must say an extra special thank you to all of the children who put so much time and effort into creating such wonderful, personalised, gift bags. These mementoes will be treasured by every member of Team Isle of Man at Glasgow 2014.”
Ann Cottier, a former member of staff at the school, helped the children design the gift bags and decide what unique items should be included to remind recipients of the Island.
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Image Caption: The Buchan School pupils Christina and Marcus – winners of the girls and boys races in the Year 6 category of the junior triathlon – present the cheque raised from the event to (left to right) Isle of Man Team Manager Trevor Taubman and Isle of Man Commonwealth Games Association President Juliet Holt. Also pictured are Team Isle of Man Ambassador Conor Cummins, and June Collister from the Manx Triathlon Club who helped organise the event.
