A WINCHESTER college has raised more than £4,000 in an effort to send one of its staff to the London Olympics.

Peter Symonds College hosted a ‘Wine and Dine’ evening at the Paul Woodhouse Centre recently to raise funds for PE teacher Louise Damen’s bid to compete in the Olympic marathon.

Miss Damen is currently on sabbatical to concentrate on qualifying for the event but the college is supporting her as part of the ‘Adopt an Olympian’ scheme.

A five-course taster meal was on offer cooked by Michelin star chef Alan Murchison while there was also a raffle and silent auction with prizes such as a tour of the Aston Martin factory, tickets to the Olympic cycling road race and a home-cooked seven-course meal by Alan.

Ali Wareham, head of PE at the college, said: “We are so grateful to everyone who helped us raise so much money for Louise. These funds will allow her to concentrate all her efforts on her training endeavours to qualify for the 2012 Olympics.

“We are behind her all the way as she prepares for the London Marathon where she needs to perform at her best to gain the final GB place in the team.”