20.06.1996

Final lap

With less than two weeks to go before the end of our Summer Offensive fundraising drive, we still have not received half of our target total.

As we go to press, the running total has just passed the £12,000 mark - but we need £25,000. It is quite normal for athletes to leave something in reserve for the final lap, but the danger is, if you get too far behind, even a devastating sprint in the home straight will not be enough.

We are hearing of successful events organised in various parts of the country, but several branches have yet to forward us the takings. A notable exception this week is the £125 raised by Dundee comrades with their sponsored hill walk.

Two more £50 cheques were received this week: ST in Wolverhampton tells us that the Summer Offensive was the first thing she thought of on receiving an unexpected windfall. WS from St Helens apologises for having left it so late. Better late than never, comrade.

Our thanks go to these and all other comrades who sent in their contributions this week. But we now need rapid, maintained acceleration, rather than a short, sharp final sprint.

Peter Manson