STEWARTON Basketball Team are in contention for a potential £200,000 cash windfall.

Regional housebuilder Persimmon Homes West Scotland have shortlisted three amateur youth sporting groups to go forward to potentially win up to £200,000 in cash.

The company launched their Healthy Communities scheme last May, with the aim of giving £615,000 to support amateur youth sport in England, Scotland and Wales. There is a top prize of £200,000 to create a sporting legacy.

As part of the scheme thousands of groups and individuals applied for monthly donations of £750 to pay for kit and equipment. As part of their entry they had to say what they would spend the £200,000 on if they were lucky enough to win it. Persimmon Homes West Scotland gave away £6,000 locally as part of this and nationally, Persimmon’s 30 businesses donated £180,000.

Now, the company have selected three organisations to be considered for a place in the final – up and coming Junior Karate Champion Emma Ruthven from Carluke, Stewarton Basketball Team and City of Glasgow Swim Club.

The next round will see the board of Persimmon’s Charitable Foundation select one name per regional business to go through to the final with the ultimate winner decided by a public vote.

Online voting opens on Monday, February 5, and runs until March 16. The winner will be announced at a gala dinner at York Racecourse on Thursday, March 22.

One individual or group will scoop the £200,000 top prize, while two runners-up will in £50,000 each. The other 27 finalists will win £5,000 each.

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