You deserve a gold medal!

Generous folk have rallied round to support a squad of island swimmers whose Commonwealth Games hopes risked being dashed by the collapse of Monarch Airlines.

The team of 30 young athletes with the Isle of Man Swimming Club, aged from 12 to 19, were booked to fly with Monarch to Fuerteventura later this month for a warm weather training camp.

Some six to eight in the group could potentially qualify for the 2018 Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast - and the training camp is their last chance to do so.

But they were left in deep water when Monarch went bust.

The club have been desperately making alternative travel arrangements - but the group was £7,500 out of pocket because the travel insurance does not cover an airline going bust.

Nine of the youngest athletes will fly direct from Glasgow while the others will be travel to Lanzarote and then get the ferry to Fuerteventura.

The replacement fights, with Jet2, Ryanair and Thomas Cook, have cost an extra £8,000.

Generous

But after the team’s plight was highlighted in the Manx Independent earlier this month, generous donations have come in from island residents and businesses that have helped recoup some of the lost money.

Anonymous donations of £5,000 and £1,000 have been received. A further £1,000 has been presented to the Isle of Man Swimming Club by Conister Bank. Main sponsor Utmost Wealth Solutions has also provided £1,000.

Mike Foy, chief executive of Utmost, said: ’As part of our ongoing commitment to the Isle of Man Swimming Association and hearing the collapse of the airlines, Utmost Wealth Solutions are pleased to be able to help and ensure the continuous development of Isle of Man Swimmers.’

Meawhile, Travellers’ Choice coaches have provided discount travel for the team from Heysham to Glasgow and return. And the Steam Packet has put the squad on a Supported Sports scheme which has reduced the cost of ongoing transport.

Sonia Grainger, chairman of Isle of Man Swimming Club, said: ’We are delighted that so many people have rallied round to support the team following the problems with Monarch.’