A CUMBRIAN rugby club is edging closer to achieving its goal of raising £200,000 in funds towards a new clubhouse - with one Keswick family anonymously donating an extraordinary £50,000 to the fundraising.

Keswick Rugby Club is moving closer to gaining the funds, which will see the club house and Davidson Park undertake a major upgrade.

The overall build budget is an estimated £1.9million, which will be made up from £650,000 of the club's existing funds, £600,000 of private loans, up to £550,000 of Grant funding, and the project fundraising target of £200,000.

A number of events have been held at the club including a fashion show, race night, sportsman’s dinner and various raffles and auctions

Tim Green, president of Keswick RFC, said: “Fundraising for our new club house is gathering momentum and has raised a fabulous £150,000 already.

"Since the launch of 'The Big Build' project six months ago, events and donations have raised around £70,000 which will be doubled by our generous supporters' match funding. Add in Gift Aid and it means the club has raised an amazing amount so far.

"We have a long way to go, but I know with the support of our members and the wider Keswick Community, this project will be successful"

The club has said it is in the final stages of the planning process for the project, as well as being close to submitting a number of applications for grant funding, which if gained will push the project further towards completion.

A spokesman for the Big Build committee said: "As confidence in the ‘Big Build’ grows we have seen an increase in the number of people pledging significant sums and purchasing patio paving slabs.

"Whilst we appreciate that £1,000 is not affordable for all households, we would urge anyone planning to buy a slab to do so soon to benefit from the match funding and to keep the momentum of the fundraising going.

"We also applaud the Keswick Falcons who have grouped together to buy a slab and those who have purchased them in memory of family members who had a long standing connection with Keswick Rugby Club."

The committee have said they were 'humbled' to receive a donation by a local family of £50,000.

The committee said: "The factor that stood out the most was that the family concerned are not club members, but could see the great work that Keswick Rugby Club does in our town and the surrounding area, the benefits to the local community and the opportunities provided for the young people of Keswick."