Avid book enthusiasts have collectively contributed $20,000 towards Cromwell Rotary Club’s latest fundraising project.

The money was raised during the club’s King’s Birthday Book Sale, with proceeds going towards a stretcher for the new patient transfer vehicle available through Central Otago Health Services.

Book sale committee member Neroli McRae said while the club had a target of $25,000, the end result was “not a bad effort”.

She thanked everyone who donated books and made a purchase throughout the five day event, which started on Thursday, May 30 and finished on Monday, June 3.

The committee was still working through the figures to determine how many books were sold.

While the committee felt there were less people in attendance than previous years, those who did make the most of it got a chance to buy some old classics, as well as more recent titles, magazines, children’s books and puzzles.

Neroli said the money raised will be well spent, for the benefit of the wider community.

The book sale is one of two the club hosts each year.

The first on the calendar is the annual Summer Book Sale, which usually raises about $10,000.

Money raised from the summer event goes towards local and international projects.

Among the local initiatives the club supports are breakfasts in schools and distribution of illustrated dictionaries to children in classrooms.

The club also supports ShelterBox, an initiative which provides emergency shelter and essential supplies to help communities devastated by disaster and conflict.