FUNDRAISERS had a barrel of laughs as they rolled up to raise thousands of pounds for charity this weekend.
Despite the deluge which hit Weymouth on Saturday evening, the rain stayed off just long enough for the annual Barrel Challenge.
Although only the charity pots have so far been counted, organisers think they have raised in the region of £4,000 for the Weymouth lifeboat and the Fortuneswell Cancer Unit.
They have thanked the volunteers and bands who donated their time and to all who turned out for it.
The barrel challenge sees teams of four take on a 12-mile cross-country hike carrying a barrel.
On the return to Weymouth, the final race take place from the town pump by the Old Rooms Pub, back to the Kings Arms Pub along the harbourside.
"There was no overall winner," said one of the organisers, Colin House, "everyone was a winner because it was a fantastic day- especially the charities."
On Saturday afternoon, South Dorset MP Richard Drax and Mayor of Weymouth and Portland Christine James, came along for the fancy-dress barrel roll along the quayside.
The Weymouth lifeboat also came alongside to show its appreciation.
The station is one of the busiest on the coast and deals with 100 emergency ‘shouts’ every year with the two lifeboats – the all weather Ernest and Mabel and the in shore Phyl Clare III.
Around £2,1000 had been collected in charity donations pots and, with sponsorship funds which are yet to be counted, Mr House estimated that the overall total would be in the region of £3,500-£4,000.
"Myself and the other organisers, Nina Blondeau and Sheryl Lee, would like to thank everyone who took part for their generosity- the bands who gave their time for free, everyone who volunteered to help and everyone who came along," said Mr House.
Plans for the 2016 barrel challenge are already in the pipeline.
"We want it to get bigger and better every year," Mr House added.
For more information or to donate, visit sites.google.com/site/weymouthbarrelchallenge/
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