(Image: Keith Blundy/Durham Freemasons)
Durham Freemasons have donated £25,000 to a County Durham children's charity to help fund specialist hydrotherapy sessions for youngsters with physical disabilities and complex needs.
The Durham Freemasons Cycling Group raised the money through its Coast and Castles Bike Ride Challenge for the organisation’s 2032 Festival.
Natalie Duncan, fundraising manager at Heel and Toe, said: "We are so grateful.
Gavin, Natalei & Steve (Image: Keith Blundy/Durham Freemasons)
"We don’t often receive a substantial amount of money like this from just one event, so this is huge for us.
"It will help us continue offering hydrotherapy to children across the North East."
The donation will help pay the running costs of Heel and Toe’s hydrotherapy pool near Chester-le-Street.
Stev & Gavin get to see the work bing done by the staff of Heel & Toe in the Hydrotherapy pool (Image: Keith Blundy/Durham Freemasons)
Heel and Toe provides therapies for children with complex needs and receives no government funding, relying on about £900,000 raised each year.
The hydrotherapy service alone costs about £5,000 a month.
Gavin Rowell, one of the organisers of the cycling challenge, said: "It was incredible to come back and see the work the charity is doing for children with complex needs.
"The support they receive here is unbelievable.
Elias and Jensen supported by the dedicated staff team at Heel & Toe thanks to the support of Durham Freemasons (Image: Keith Blundy/Durham Freemasons)
"Seeing the joy on the children’s faces as they played in the hydrotherapy pool made the three days of pain and suffering, the gusts of wind and the rain completely worthwhile."
Steve Piercey, who co-organised the ride, added: "What really stood out to me was the care and attention the staff give to the children, and how much they clearly enjoy their work.
"We could have done with some of that attention halfway through the bike ride."
Gavin, Natalei & Steve (Image: Keith Blundy/Durham Freemasons)
The Coast and Castles challenge was the cycling group’s ninth charity ride.
From September 4 to 6, 30 riders and five support drivers cycled nearly 200 miles from Pelton to Portobello in Edinburgh.
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The funds raised will contribute to the Durham Freemasons’ 2032 Festival, which will officially launch in January 2027 and aims to raise more than £3 million over five years to support charities and good causes.
Ms Duncan said: "The results we see from children in the pool are amazing and it’s a facility that is very much needed in the region.
"We’re grateful not only for the money raised, but also for helping more people learn about who we are and what we do."
Gavin, Natalei & Steve (Image: Keith Blundy/Durham Freemasons)