Salt Rakers KIA Raffle Falls Short of Fundraising Target as Grand Draw Approaches
Swimming club makes urgent appeal for public support to help finance long-awaited Bight Community Swimming Pool
With less than four weeks remaining before its grand fundraising raffle draw, Salt Rakers Aquatic Club is appealing to residents, businesses and supporters across the Turks and Caicos Islands to help close a financial shortfall in its campaign to construct the proposed Bight Community Swimming Pool.
The club's highly anticipated raffle, featuring a brand-new 2026 Kia K3 motor vehicle among 10 prizes, is scheduled to take place on Saturday, November 28, 2026, at IGA Gourmet Supermarket in Providenciales.
However, with just 25 days remaining before the draw, organisers say ticket sales and fundraising contributions have not yet reached their financial target, prompting a renewed appeal for community support.
Bennett Williams, founder and head coach of Salt Rakers Aquatic Club, is urging individuals and corporate sponsors to purchase additional raffle tickets or make financial donations to help advance the ambitious community project.
"We are currently behind our financial target," Williams acknowledged in his appeal to supporters.
He stressed that the fundraising initiative is about much more than winning a vehicle, describing it as an investment in the future of swimming, water safety and youth development throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands.
AMBITIOUS SWIMMING POOL PROJECT MOVING CLOSER TO REALITY
Despite the fundraising challenges, the proposed Bight Community Swimming Pool has reached several important development milestones.
According to Williams, the project has already secured approval from the Planning Department, while construction plans are currently being reviewed by BCQS for an updated financial assessment.
A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for December 15, 2026, with construction expected to begin in late December or early January 2027.
If the proposed schedule is achieved, the facility could be completed by summer 2027.
The planned development will feature a 25-metre, 10-lane swimming pool designed to accommodate swimming lessons, competitive training, water safety education and community aquatic programmes.
The facility is expected to serve children attending Enid Capron Primary School, other nearby educational institutions and families living in The Bight and surrounding communities.
For Williams, the project represents a significant step towards addressing the need for a dedicated swimming facility accessible to young people in Providenciales.
EIGHT YEARS OF DETERMINATION
For approximately eight years, Salt Rakers Aquatic Club has operated without a permanent training facility, relying on beaches and various swimming pools throughout Providenciales to develop its athletes.
Despite those limitations, the club has continued to train young swimmers who have gone on to represent the Turks and Caicos Islands in local, regional and international competitions.
Williams believes a permanent aquatic facility would provide greater consistency in training, expand access to swimming instruction and create additional opportunities for aspiring athletes.
The proposed pool would also strengthen water safety education, an important consideration for an island community where beaches, boating and other water-based activities are central to everyday life.
"This project is about more than constructing a swimming pool. It is about saving lives, teaching children essential water safety skills, developing future champions, and creating opportunities for generations to come," Williams emphasised.
$20 TICKETS OFFER CHANCE TO WIN KIA K3
As the November 28 deadline approaches, Salt Rakers is encouraging supporters to purchase raffle tickets priced at $20 each.
The raffle offers 10 prizes, with the 2026 Kia K3 motor vehicle serving as the headline attraction.
Organisers are hoping the opportunity to win the vehicle, combined with the wider community benefits of the swimming pool project, will generate a final surge in ticket sales.
The grand draw will take place at 4 p.m. at IGA Gourmet Supermarket, with music, entertainment and ticket sales planned throughout the day.
Members of the public are being encouraged to attend the celebration and demonstrate their support for the club's long-term vision.
In addition to purchasing raffle tickets, individuals and businesses can make direct financial contributions towards the proposed swimming pool.
Donations can be deposited into the club's Royal Bank of Canada account under the name Salt Rakers Aquatic, account number 7894777. Cheques can also be made payable to Salt Rakers Aquatic.
COMMUNITY SUPPORT CRITICAL TO SUCCESS
With the groundbreaking ceremony scheduled just over two weeks after the raffle draw, the club is entering a crucial period in its efforts to move the swimming pool project from planning to construction.
Although significant progress has been made in securing planning approval and advancing the construction process, the fundraising shortfall remains an immediate challenge.
Williams expressed appreciation to parents, swimmers, coaches, businesses and community members who have supported the organisation over the years.
He said their encouragement and generosity have helped sustain the club through years of operating without a permanent home.
Now, he is calling on that same community spirit to help deliver a facility that could benefit generations of young people.
The club is also inviting potential corporate sponsors and other interested supporters to discuss additional ways of contributing to the development.
For Salt Rakers Aquatic Club, the November 28 raffle represents more than a fundraising event. It is an important opportunity to secure further financial support for a project that aims to transform swimming development and water safety education in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
With the grand draw fast approaching and the fundraising target still unmet, the message from the club is clear: every ticket purchased and every donation received could help bring the Bight Community Swimming Pool one step closer to reality.
Comments