A CHEQUE for £5,300 has been handed over to Falmouth Surf Lifesaving Club by Packet editor Paul Armstrong after the organisation was successful in its bid for cash through the paper’s parent company’s charitable arm the Gannett Foundation.

Club chairman Roger Stephens was presented with the cheque on Monday night before a club training session at the Leisure Centre on the Maenporth Estate.

The money will be used to replace outdated and badly damaged surf rescue boards and to buy a defibrillation machine.

Mr Stephens said that the damaged boards would be repaired so that they can be used to train youngsters at the club in the art of surf lifesaving. “We are extremely grateful to the Gannett Foundation for giving us this money which will make a great deal of difference to the club and help us to save lives in the future,” he said.

The club, which is based at Maenporth Beach was founded in 1967.

It trains on a Tuesday night and life guards the beach at Maenporth on a Sunday.

Packet editor Paul Armstrong said: “I am delighted to be able to hand over this cheque to Falmouth Surf Lifesaving Club whose work is vital in training the lifesavers of tomorrow and ensuring the safety of those enjoying the beach at Maenporth.

Club members have been instrumental in saving the lives of people over the years, many of the rescues covered in this newspaper.”

The Gannett Foundation is the charitable arm of Gannett, owner of the Newsquest Media Group, which publishes regional newspapers, websites and magazines nationwide, including the Packet.

Each year it provides funding to support local projects and organisations in the areas where Newsquest operates in the UK valuing projects that bring lasting benefits to the communities and neighbourhoods served by its newspapers.