Kettering Sea Cadets more than halfway to fundraising target after devastating fire

Pictures taken at the scene of the fire last night

Thanks to a wonderful response from the local community, they have already raised more than £3,000 of the £5,000 they are looking to get together to replace equipment lost in the blaze on Tuesday, November 15.

Kit built up over the past 10 years including sailing equipment, musical instruments for the band, engines and an all-important safety boat was destroyed in the fire.

Insurance will cover some, but not all, of the costs of replacing the equipment but to ensure cadets have the same opportunities as ever in 2017, they have launched a Just Giving appeal that’s already being warmly backed by the local community.

Chairman of the Kettering Sea Cadets Andy Barnwell said: “The cadets were absolutely devastated when they found out about the fire, but since then we have been on the move to put things right again.

“We all know we’ll never get back what the kit is actually worth to us and has taken over 10 years to build up.

“We’ll also need new storage facilities which will need ‘kitting’ out, but our aim is to have everything sorted so that our 55 plus cadets will be back on the water on April 1, 2017, ready for the new season.

“It’s a tall order but I like a challenge and the supportive response we have had so far has been tremendous.”

The Kettering Sea Cadets’ Just Giving page can be found here.