A huge Dorset festival has raised £30,000 for two incredible charities.

Summerfest is a major Weymouth event which takes place at Redlands Leisure and Community Park, jam packed with live music, entertainment and much more.

This year, the event, hosted by Weymouth and Portland Round Table, welcomed thousands of visitors for an unforgettable day of fun activities, live entertainment and fairground rides, finishing with a spectacular firework display.

The day was raising money for Weymouth Lifeboat Station and Dorset Acquired Brain Injury Rehab Service, a hugely important service that helped rehabilitate Round Table member Grant Tewkesbury after a serious head injury in 2022.

Weymouth and Portland Round Table were ‘honoured’ to present a £17,000 cheque to Weymouth Lifeboat Station.

Cheque presentation at Weymouth Lifeboat StationCheque presentation at Weymouth Lifeboat Station (Image: Weymouth and Portland Round Table)

Jason Frampton, Chairman of Weymouth and Portland Round Table, said: “To present Weymouth Lifeboat Station with a cheque of £17,000 to continue their life-saving work at sea was a real honour for all of us.

“We are simply blown away by the enthusiasm and continued support that the people of Weymouth have shown to SummerFest over the last two years.

“On behalf of Weymouth and Portland Round Table, I would like to thank everyone that gave so generously at SummerFest 2024 and to the many very generous sponsors who made the day possible.”

The donation has been extremely well received by the lifeboat station.

Every time the Ernest and Mabel all weather lifeboat is launched, it costs the RNLI approximately £1,500.

A spokesperson for Weymouth Lifeboat Station said: “The cheque, for £17,000, is an amazing and most welcome donation by the Weymouth & Portland Round Table. 

“The RNLI is funded by donations and although we act alongside and support the other emergency services, we are not a government agency, so donations such as this are vital to our being able to launch to that aid of those in difficulty at sea or along our beautiful Dorset coastline. 

“Launching the Ernest and Mabel, our all-weather lifeboat, costs an average of £1,500, and with each crew member needing appropriate clothing and safety equipment that costs in the region of £3,000 this donation will undoubtedly contribute to lives saved along our local coastline.

“We are extremely grateful to the Weymouth and Portland Round Table for their generous donation and continued support of Weymouth lifeboats.”