On Saturday the 4th of April 2020, following the cancellation of the Grand National horse-race due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Virtual Grand National was televised on ITV.
Not wishing to miss-out on the opportunity of making some money for charity, the Northants & Hunts New and Young Masons Club made the most of technology by using Facebook to organise a sweepstake.
Members were invited to "purchase" a racehorse for £2 each with prizes of £20, £10 and £5 for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place respectively.
Such was the popularity of the sweepstake that all 40-horses were sold in a matter of hours thus necessitating the need for a second sweepstake.
The NHNYMC Chairman, WBro Dan Cooke, ably assisted by his son provided some welcome light-relief and a few giggles whilst trying to pronounce the names of the winners during a live video broadcast on the Club's Facebook group.
Thanks to the kind generosity of all those who took part, especially those who donated their winnings, the double-sweepstake raised a grand total of £130 for the Provincial Grand Charity.
All in all, it wasn't a bad afternoon's work and provided some much-needed fun for everyone.
WBro Dan thanked everyone who took part and offered the Club's assistance to anyone who had ideas for similar events during this very difficult COVID-19 lockdown.