A tennis club has aced a £10,000 crowdfunding target shortly before it is due to reopen to members following the national lockdown.

Gravesham Tennis Club hoped to raise the amount within 28 days of launching the appeal, called Let's Bounce Back Together.

But the target was smashed in only nine days thanks to the generosity of club members, their family, and friends of the club.

The tennis club, based at Gravesend Rugby Club off Milton Road, also managed to net a £4,000 donation from Sport England through their Active Together partnership with fundraising platform Crowdfunder which makes £2.5 million in match-funding available to sports clubs.

Mike Barrett, head of the fundraising team at Gravesham Tennis Club, said: "We are so grateful for the incredible support from the community and from Sport England which has allowed us to meet our initial fundraising target. The speed with which we did it demonstrates how much the club means to its members.

"The money we've raised so far will pay for vital repairs to our clubhouse and the repainting of our courts to maintain and protect them for years to come."

With the initial fundraising target achieved, the campaign is now aiming for £15,000 and the club is appealing to ex-members for donations.

Mr Barrett added: "The club was established 40 years ago and before that the old Imperial Paper Mill tennis club was here. We'd love to reconnect with past members who enjoyed tennis here that might like to support the club and the sport for future generations."

The successful fundraising campaign is a huge boost for the club which will be reopening along with other outdoor sports on March 29 as part of the government's roadmap out of lockdown.

The club will be serving up a busy schedule of activities to get members quickly back on court including Easter social tennis sessions, a league for singles play and the return of inter-club matches across the county.

Mr Barrett said: "This third lockdown has been hard-going for many people - we can't wait to reopen and welcome members old and new to enjoy tennis from March 29."

More information about the crowdfunding campaign and the club can be found at graveshamtennis.com

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