JOCKEY Willie Carson will fire the starting gun for this year's Swindon Cares fundraiser today.

Mr Carson will launch the event, along with brewery-owner and chairman of Swindon Cares, James Arkell.

Speaking to the Adver before the launch at Arkells Brewery in Stratton, Mr Arkell said: "We are extremely excited about this year's Swindon Cares.

"We've got some really exciting and new events for people to look forward to, helping some extremely worthwhile local charities.

"Over the years support from the town and the business community has been superb, and we hope to see more of the same in 2005."

This year's Swindon Cares week will run from July 10 to July 16.

Events are planned every day, including a treasure hunt bike ride starting from and returning to the Nationwide headquarters in Pipers Way.

Masterminds will be able to test their general knowledge with several quizzes.

There will also be dress down days for employees and even a golf day.

There is a Singles and Mingles night at the Apartment in the town centre. Charities benefiting this year are Working for Opportunities, Threshold Housing Link, The Green Hut and GWR FM Community Trust.

Working for Opportunities is a charity for the disabled which helps disabled people into real employment, while the Green Hut is a drop-in centre for the homeless, unemployed, disadvantaged, and the elderly, situated behind St Barnabas Church in Gorse Hill.

The Green Hut carries out key work in the community providing recreational facilities, as well as someone to talk to, giving help and advice to those in need.

Also benefiting from Swindon Cares week is the Threshold Housing Link, which was established 32 years ago with the single aim of helping Swindon homeless people rebuild their lives.

The organisation has a hostel Culvery Court that provides two square meals a day for those Swindon homeless who are able to commit to a rehabilitation programme. Money raised by Swindon Cares would go towards Culvery Court's hefty £16,000 annual food bill. Also getting cash will be the GWR FM Community Trust, from which many other charities in the area will benefit. In its lifetime it is has raised more than £2.32 million for organisation within the radio station's transmission area.

Last year's Swindon Cares initiative raised over £22,000, which went to Age Concern Swindon, NSPCC, Macmillan and GWR FM Community Trust.

To find out more about this year's events visit the website at www.swindoncares.co.uk

Anthony Osborne