AN 18-month project to raise funds for charity and highlight the work of the Pickering Rotary Club has smashed its £10,000 target.

Nearly two years ago Luke Arnold, who is now president of Pickering Rotarians, suggested the group take part in the Vogalonga in Venice - a 20-mile race started as a protest by those Venetians who were against motor boats because of the pollution and the damage that they caused to the city.

Project Coordinator Hugh Morgan said: "Our boat, an old Yorkshire cobble from a boatyard in Hartlepool, took some time to find.

"Another Rotarian, Rob Thomas carried out the refurbishment, but we thought that if we turned it into a pirate ship, we could raise money before the Vogalonga for charity - 75 per cent of whatever we raised would go to Marie Curie, and what remained to Rotary charities.

"We named the pirate ship, Sweet Charity, and set off on visits to Ryedale’s towns, agricultural shows and the Tour de Yorkshire to raise money.

"We had set ourselves the target of £10,000 but members of the public were so generous that we revised this figure upwards."

Mr Morgan said four Rotarians and two partners embraced a tough training regime which culminated in long distance rowing on Windermere and Ullswater to prepare for the race in May.

"At precisely 9am the starter cannon was fired and we were off. Five and a half hours later we completed the course and celebrated in the evening with champagne," he said.

Mr Morgan said: "Without the help from some 30 Ryedale businesses, Hatfield's Land Rovers, Ripon Trailers, Barclays Bank and Persimmon Homes PLC, we could not have made this happen.

"Without the generosity of the people of Ryedale we would have not been able to present Marie Curie with a cheque for £12,775 and Rotary charities with some £4,000."

Liz Howlett, Marie Curie fundraising manager for Yorkshire, said: "The fabulous total raised by the Pickering Pirates will help us provide care for even more people and behalf of everyone at Marie Curie I offer them heartfelt thanks. They are an inspiring group of people who have had such incredible fun with their fundraising, just marvellous."