A CURRY and quiz night organised by the Dorset Echo in aid of the Will Mackaness Trust is being held on Friday, July 20 and everyone is invited.

Olympic and Paralympic sailors have thrown their support behind the fun family event, which will be taking place at the Fleet Restaurant in Weymouth College.

Olympians Iain Percy and Andrew Simpson, who are representing Team GB in the Star keelboat event this summer, met Will’s mum Pam Govier and some of the youngsters who had benefited from the Trust.

Double Olympic gold medallist Iain said it was ‘humbling’ to meet Pam and to learn of the work being done to enable borough youngsters to experience the watersports available on their doorstep.

He said: “The Will Mackaness Trust is a great charity, it was really nice to meet Pam.

“It’s a great case of people like her doing special things like this, it’s really humbling.

“It’s also great for our sport, it takes a lot of effort and energy to get people out on the water.”

He encouraged everyone to support the fundraiser.

Portland’s double Olympic medallist Simon Hiscocks said: “It’s a great idea, a curry and quiz night always goes down well, it’s a recipe for a good evening.

“The Will Mackaness Trust is what every sport needs, it’s brilliant to get kids out on the water and to experience sailing and watersports.”

Paralympian John Robertson, who lives on Portland, added: “Anything to get kids involved in the sport is important for the future and it is especially important during this Olympic year.

“There’s a lot to do around here and the trust is about making children aware of what’s out there, getting them in touch with the right people so their little lightbulbs go on.”

The fundraising curry and quiz night will begin at 7pm, ready for a 7.15pm quiz start.

Special thanks to Weymouth College for sponsoring the venue.

Pam Govier said: “When people can come together and do things it just brings a real feeling of community, especially as the money is going towards helping the youngsters of the community.”

How to get involved

The quiz and curry night on Friday, July 20 costs £15 a head and is being held in the Fleet Restaurant in Weymouth College.

Teams for the quiz should be made up of four to six people, or individuals can enter and will be matched up with a team.

Curry will be served as a buffet halfway through the quiz in the Cygnets Restaurant and a bar will be open from 7pm.

On the menu is chicken korma, vegetable korma, rice, naan bread, onion bhajis, poppadums and mango chutney and mint raita.

To book, ring Jo Davis on 01305 830995 or email joanna.davis@ dorsetecho.co.uk and give her the name of your team and its team members.

Places must be booked in advance and cash payment should be made at the Echo offices in Weymouth or Dorchester.

See our Facebook group Dorset Echo Quiz and Curry Fundraiser for more information.