AFTER nearly a year and a half of zealous fundraising, the Meadows Makeover team was pleased to start the New Year by presenting a cheque for £10,000 to Tavistock Town Council and the Friends of the Meadows for a zip wire.

The makeover group has been busily fundraising since July 2013, in a bid to improve the play park for the children that use it.

The first piece of equipment the team was looking to buy was a new zip wire.

Eighteen months on and the team has raised £11,377 altogether. The zip wire has now been ordered at a reduced price of £9,900 and the Makeover group intends to donate the remaining money towards a new roundabout.

Founded by Mia Holman and Keri Pierce after a chance meeting in the park and soon joined by Mandy Coles, Gareth Dempster, Matt Fogarty and Barry Lowton, the Makeover team has had a small board of no more than 14 members at any one time, with members giving what time they could to fundraising events.

Keri said: 'Every board member has given what they could, all bringing different skills such as business acumen, poster design and sound and DJ talents. And of course there were so many people not on the board who gave such a lot of help at our events — too many people to name!'

Over the 18 months, the group has held two summer fun days, two Christmas wreath making evenings, a children's Christmas party, a table top sale, a pool party and a quiz.

The team also took part in the 2014 carnival and had a stall at the recent Lions' Balloon Glow.

The group is keen to give credit to the Lions Club of Tavistock, which raised a huge £4,000 towards the total by holding events throughout 2014 and donating profits to the Makeover team.

The group also benefited from a small number of generous anonymous donations.

Mia Holman said: 'It's been a roller coaster 18 months, but it does prove that if you put your mind to something, with a good, supportive community behind you, it can be done. And we couldn't have done it without our families' and friends' support.'

Keri added: 'It is an amazing way to kick off 2015.

'We are so thrilled to be able to donate this money for the zip wire after months of hard work.

'The whole community has supported the cause, from local shops and businesses, the Lions and Round Table to individual people who all gave their time and money to raise the funds needed for the zip wire.'

l Pictured from the Meadows Makeover team are Anhela Cuevas Carrillo, Mia Holman, Barry Lowton and Keri Pierce, with some of their children, youth worker Vicki Lloyd and mayor Harry Smith, Cllr John Sheldon and town council general manager Wayne Southall. Meadows Makeover board members unable to be in the picture were Araminta Cane, Mandy Coles, Gareth Dempster, Matt Fogarty, Abi George and Joanna Potter.

Picture by James Bird