TOP young gymnasts were given a helping hand to get to the tumbling world championships by local Rotarians.

The Rotary Club of Basingstoke Deane donated £2,000 towards the travelling costs of seven members of the tumbling team from Basingstoke Gymnastic Club who went to the tumbling world championships in Sofia, Bulgaria.

While senior competitors are funded by British Gymnastics, juniors have to fund their own trip. The cost for each competitor, including their tracksuits and leotards, totals £1,800 each – a heavy burden on parents.

The world championships followed close on the heels of an earlier international competition in Amsterdam, attended by five of the same younger age group competitors, which had already cost the parents, who had been able to afford to fund the trip, £800 each.

Despite their own personal fundraising efforts, it was probable that several of the group would have been unable to fully fund their trip so a convincing case was presented to The Rotary Club of Basingstoke Deane to assist with the travelling costs.

Basingstoke Deane Rotary Club president Helen Ricketts said: “In addition to the £2,000 allocated to this group, the Rotary Club has committed a further £3,000 to be held in trust to assist with similar situations in the future.”