This in from the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, in their own words. Ed
The Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust is always thrilled when individuals or teams get together to fundraise for our charity. A group of colleagues from the Probation Service in Southampton has decided to attempt a Triathlon around the Isle of Wight on the weekend of 2nd and 3rd July.
The team has set itself a very tough challenge with a programme of Swim, Dash, Ride, Swim.
Swimming across the Solent
Starting on Saturday 2nd July on the shores of Lepe Country Park, the team will swim across to Gurnard on the Isle of Wight. They will then cycle for 30 miles and run for five miles from Cowes to Sandown and on to Niton, where they will spend the night in a Youth Hostel.
On day two, Sunday 3rd July, the team will then cycle and run for another 35 miles from Niton to the Needles Park at Alum Bay, and then on to Cowes. The swimmers then hit the Solent again to swim from Gurnard back to Lepe. The official finish line will be at Bargate Monument in Southampton at approximately 3pm.
Make your donations in person
As well as being a personal challenge, the main objective is to raise funds for Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust.
Along the Triathlon route, the team will be collecting donations at the following locations:
- Lepe Country Park, Saturday morning, when the swimmers leave.
- Cowes, Saturday morning
- Sandown, Saturday afternoon
- Shanklin, Saturday evening
- The Needles Park (Alum Bay) Sunday
- Bargate Monument (Southampton, Sunday afternoon)
Supported by Bramble the Badger
The team will be well supported by Bramble the Badger, the Wildlife Trust’s mascot who is spearheading many of the Trust’s key events during their 50th Anniversary celebrations.
They will be collecting money and giving out badges and of course they would love to see you there to give them an encouraging cheer.
If you would like to support these heroic efforts you can visit our Just Giving page.
“We need as much support as possible”
Kevin Baxter from the Probation Service says, “I love a challenge and I love getting people involved. I decided that a good way of getting my colleagues working as a team and enjoying the benefits of exercise and fitness would be to plan a challenge that everyone can get enthusiastic about. Swimming six miles across the Solent is a massive feat in itself, but then to run or cycle 70 miles around the Isle of Wight will really test everyone’s endurance. We are aiming to raise more then £5,000 for the Wildlife Trust, so we need as much support as possible.”
Julie Bythell from the Wildlife Trust has been really impressed with the efforts being made by the Probation Service team. She says, “Any help we get through people joining us as members or providing donations is really appreciated. If you see the Probation team, do give them a shout and your donations will be very well received.”
