ANOTHER week, another SARA fundraising star.

Meet Stuart Dent, Chepstow and District Round Table’s new chairman for the coming year.

He has chosen our SARA 3 appeal as one of his two charities the club will fundraise for over the coming months.

The aim of our appeal is to raise enough cash to replace the ageing SARA 3 lifeboat, used by Severn Area Rescue Association in Beachley.

Mr Dent says he hopes he will be able to donate hundreds of pounds to the appeal thanks to the fundraising efforts of the Round Table which organises several events through the year.

Managing editor of the Free Press Nicole Garnon said she was delighted with Mr Dent’s offer.

“We know the Round Table do so much fund raising for charity. We are really pleased they have decideed to help us out this year. We have quite a target to reach but thanks to the support already coming in from schools, busiensses and now the Round Table we are confident we will reach the £17,500 target.”

The Chepstow Round Table holds several events throughout the year at which it raises funds for different local charities. These include the Chepstow Carnival on June 26, a summer ball at Abbey Hotel, Tintern on July 10, the fireworks display and Santa’s sleigh.

Mr Dent said: “SARA provides a crucial service on the Severn and Wye. On a personal level, having lived in the area all my life, my parents and grandparents have always supported SARA.”

“I was looking for a charity to support and SARA is of course one we are aware of as they take part in the carnival and we are often rescued by them during the Monmouth Raft Race.”

SARA is run exclusively by volunteers and is completely dependent on donations to keep it running – it needs £30,000 a year just to maintain its services.

That’s why we launched our campaign to raise the £17,500 needed for a new lifeboat.

Several people, including a team from the Free Press and Chepstow councillors, will be taking part in a sponsored abseil to raise money for our SARA 3 appeal.

It’s being organised by the National Diving and Activity Centre near Chepstow at 10am on Sunday, September 5.

Entry forms with a £70 deposit to secure your place should be returned to the diving centre by Friday, August 13. Entry forms, are available at ndac.co.uk