Months of fundraising at the Lions@Springwood, the Brisbane Lions sports club, has resulted in Sailability Bayside being presented with a new boat, aptly named Lions@Springwood.

Sailability Bayside take people with a disability sailing each day on the beautiful Manly harbour. Their busiest days can see them take up to 100 clients out on the water.

Not only did Lions@Springwood donate the boat, they surprised Sailability Bayside with an additional $2,500.

Jeff Grace, President of Sailability Bayside, said the organisation was overwhelmed by the support.

“We only exist because of the community groups that support us so what Lions@Springwood have done for us so far is just magnificent,” Grace said.

“I just can’t express how grateful we are to receive the new dingy and finance.”

Sailability Bayside have been in operation since 2003 with the volunteers getting as much out of the experience as the clients and their carers.

“You see a lot of happy smiling faces, it lifts their spirits like you wouldn’t believe,” he said.

“They come down here sometimes a little bit glum, but they always leave happy.

“It just lifts your spirit as well. That’s the reason we do it.”

General Manager of Lions@Springwood Murray Jamieson said it had been a team effort, with both his staff and customers helping to raise the funds via raffles and donation tins.

“My neighbor is a member of the group and he said they were struggling to get new boats,” Jamieson said.

“I made a challenge to the crew at Springwood and to a lot of our customers to help raise money.”

After the boat had been constructed everyone at Springwood had an opportunity to see their fundraising efforts in the flesh.

“The staff had a lot of pleasure when they saw the boat at the club,” he said.

The extra money donated will go towards maintenance work on the other boats.