Taunton Rugby Club said they have been left ‘speechless’ after kind donations has seen a fundraising target to help repair the clubhouse was reached.
The club, based at Summerfield Stadium in the Bathpool area of town, was hit hard by Storm Chandra, leaving the pitch underwater and the clubhouse severely damaged by the flood.
A fundraising appeal was launched after the club revealed they faced a £10,000 loss in revenue plus having to shell out around £9k in repairs and redecoration in the clubhouse.
Within a day of the appeal being launched, the generosity of people and other rugby clubs has seen the original target smashed – the amount raised on their Justgiving page stands at more than £20,000.
Posting on social media, a spokesman for the club said work to repair the damage is ‘well undrway’.
The spokesman said: “We honestly don’t quite have the words to express how grateful we are for the support shown over the past 24 hours.
“To reach our target so quickly after the flooding has been overwhelming in the best possible way. The messages, donations, shares and offers of help have reminded us just how much Taunton Rugby Club means to so many people in our town and beyond.
“Players, parents, former members, visiting teams, local businesses, neighbours and friends of the club have all stepped forward. Many people who haven’t been through our doors in years have still chosen to help, simply because the club played a part in their lives at some point. That generosity has genuinely lifted spirits at what has been a very tough time for our volunteers and staff.
“Work to repair the damage is now well underway, and while progress is being made, we are unfortunately uncovering additional damage as areas are cleared, meaning some rooms and commercial spaces will take longer than first hoped to reopen. This extends the business interruption the club is facing while parts of the clubhouse remain unusable.
“Seeing the clubhouse slowly come back to life, helped by the generosity of our community, has been incredibly uplifting.”
The club has revealed that further donations will now go towards completing repair and restoration work, covering continued business interruption, replacing damaged equipment and materials and investing in flood prevention and safeguarding measures for the future.
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