Thanks to Claire for this latest update on the Wightlink Wight Challenge. Ed
In glorious sunshine at Wightlink’s Gunwharf Quays last Thursday, Sam Woodman of Wightlink, together with the organisers of the Wightlink Wight Challenge, handed over the sum of £19,538 to the event’s three chosen charities, Wessex Heartbeat, Sail 4 Cancer, and The Rainbow Centre.
The event organisers were once again so grateful to Wightlink Ferries for continued sponsorship, over the last 12 years their support has been invaluable, enabling the event to grow year on year.
£250,000 target
This year the organisers are looking forward to cracking the Quarter Million pound mark for fund raising and Islanders are being urged to sign up for the 17th September 2016 event which will in fact be the last Wightlink Wight Challenge.
Mainland athletes are also encouraged to take part thanks to Wightlink’s offer of complimentary ferry travel to all teams. This support has been instrumental in encouraging teams from all around the country to enter, and many bring their family over to support and stay the whole weekend.
As this year’s event will be the final Wightlink Wight Challenge, the three chosen charities will also be helping to fill the 45 team slots.
The last Wightlink Challenge
Tina Richardson, Events and Community Fundraising Manager for Wessex Heartbeat said
“Over a number of years Wessex Heartbeat have been beneficiaries of this fantastic challenge event, the Wightlink Wight challenge is probably one of the best, the spectacular scenery, the diversity of disciplines, the comradery and the friendly well organised approach by the organising team is second to none.
“Wessex Heartbeat are once again benefiting in sadly what will be the last Wight Challenge, but this will help them to continue to provide home from home accommodation, free of charge at Heartbeat House for families from the Isle of Wight and beyond, whilst their loved ones are staying in the Wessex Cardiac Centre at Southampton General Hospital.”
Lizette van Niekerk, Fundraising Manager, Sail 4 Cancer says;
“The sad loss of David Bowie and Alan Rickman to cancer reminds us how prevalent the disease is in our community. It has a devastating effect on the patients and their families and each year we receive more requests from families in desperate need of a break. We urgently need more fundraisers to support us in raising more funds to help these families and hope that teams from all over the region will sign up for the last Wightlink Wight Challenge this year.”
Yvonne Campbell, Community Fundraiser, The Rainbow Centre says;
“You can’t really put a price on a man with MS being able to sleep in his bed rather than sat up in a chair, or a lady with Parkinson’s being able to go out for coffee with her friends. For the parents of children with cerebral palsy, seeing their child take their first steps when they had been told by doctors that they would never walk is priceless. With the Wightlink Wight Challenge’s support over the past few years we have achieved so much more than we thought possible.”
2016 Wight Challenge
With these three very emotive charities looking forward to a final bumper event, we hope that readers will be up for the last Wightlink Wight Challenge.
Teams of three cycle 19 miles, canoe two miles and run eight miles.
Teams stick together throughout the day, and whilst times are taken, the real winners are those who raise the most, and this year prizes will be awarded to the team with the highest funds raised by the day of the event.
For more information and Registration, please visit our Website or call 07790 401036. Entry is £50 per person and a minimum of £100 sponsorship per person is requested which will be split equally between the three charities.
Image: Left to Right: Tina Richardson (Wessex Heartbeat), Yvonne Campbell (Rainbow Centre), Sam Woodman (Wightlink), Joanna Minchin and Claire Critchison (Event Organisers)
