Firefighter Challenge

PRESS RELEASE

Isle of Wight, 05/07/2006, for immediate release.

Wight Extreme Hike, starts Thursday 6th July 2006, 7am at Cowes

The Wight Extreme Hike team will be starting the Wight Extreme Hike, Firefighter Challenge 2006 at 7am on Thursday 6th July 2006 in Cowes.

Over the past seven months the team have been training for the challenge and now at the point where they are preparing to complete the hike when it starts early on Thursday morning.

The team will be circumnavigating the island (anti-clockwise) on the shoreline, covering a distance of 72 miles over three days.

All proceeds raised will go to the Wessex Wight Appeal in aid of the Isle of Wight

Chemotherapy Unit. The total raised to date is £4,207.61.

The team are grateful for the support of local and national businesses and individuals for their generosity:

Team Sponsors:

Laplow Design

ESP Signs

Hunnyhill Aquatics

Vectawarm

Marghams Stores Ltd

Shanklin Auction Rooms

Central Garage - Citroen

Andy Butler Sports Ground Specialist

Scotties Fishing Tackle

 

Support for the Wight Extreme Hike team:

These organisations, companies and businesses have provided invaluable support to the team:

Volunteers of the Wessex Cancer Trust - Isle of Wight

Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service

Freshwater Inshore Lifeboat crews

Co-Op, Freshwater

Thorness Bay Holiday Camp, Thorness

Verdi’s Cafe, Fort Victori

Carusos, Colwell Bay

The Needles Pleasure Park, Alum Bay

The Dine Inn, Ventnor

Grange Farm

Yaverland Sailing and Boat Club

Bembridge View Cafe, Bembridge

The Lazy Wave, Shanklin

The Codfather, Ryde

Holiday Fellowship, Freshwater Bay

Baywatch Cafe, Dover

Cowes Floating Bridge

Collection facilities, all day on Friday 7th July 2006 at:

Isle of Wight Pearl

Blackgang Chine

Ventnor Botanic Gardens, Ventnor

 

Timetable and route for the Wight Extreme Hike, 6th to 8th July 2006

Day One of the Wight Extreme Hike - Cowes to Freshwater

The team will remain on the shoreline throughout the day of the hike.

Approximate times for Thursday 6th July 2006:

07:00hrs start at Cowes, opposite Mornington Road/bandstand

08:30hrs Thorness Beach

09:30hrs Newtown Creek (swim!)

11:30hrs Yarmouth town (swim!)

12:30hrs Fort Victoria

14:15hrs Colwell Bay

14:30hrs Totland Bay

15:00hrs Alum Bay (swim around the Needles) - Freshwater Inshore Lifeboat standing by near to team for safety.

18:00hrs Freshwater Bay (rest for the night)

 

Day Two of the Wight Extreme Hike - Freshwater to Yaverland

The team will remain on the shoreline throughout the day of the hike.

Approximate times for Friday 7th July 2006:

06:00hrs Breakfast

06:30hrs start from Freshwater Bay (swim!)

07:30hrs Shippards Chine

08:45hrs Grange Farm

09:30hrs Atherfield Holiday Camp

10:00hrs Whale Chine

11:30hrs Castlehaven

13:00hrs Woody Bay

14:00hrs Ventnor

15:30hrs Shanklin Chine - team joined by Matt Le Tissier

16:30hrs Sandown Pier

17:30hrs Yaverland Sailing Club - rest for the night

Collection facilities, all day on Friday 7th July 2006 at:

Isle of Wight Pearl

Balckgang Chine

Botanic Gardens, Ventnor

 

Day Three of the Wight Extreme Hike - Yaverland to Cowes

The Island really needs the Chemotherapy Unit so please support us with this challenge and sponsor us.

The team will remain on the shoreline throughout the day of the hike.

Approximate times for Saturday 8th July 2006:

08:00hrs start from Yaverland Sailing Club

08:45hrs Whitecliff Bay

09:30hrs Bembridge Lifeboat station

10:00hrs Duver (swim!)

11:00hrs Seaview

12:00hrs Ryde Pier

13:30hrs Fishbourne (swim)

16:00hrs East Cowes

16:30hrs West Cowes floating bridge

17:00hrs Cowes - finish!

The team will be joined in Cowes by Paul Street (Brigade Manager, Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service), Laura Peacy-Wilcox (Mayor of Cowes), Tony King (Deputy Mayor of Cowes), Rt Hon Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight MP), Councillor Andy Sutton (Leader of the Council), along with crews from Cowes Fire Station, Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service.

Fire & Rescue Service crews from around the Island will be joining the team to assist in raising funds as the team progress. The Wight Extreme Hike team are very grateful for their support.

The team would also like to express their sincere gratitude for the help and support of the Isle of Wight Branch of the Wessex Cancer Trust and all the volunteers.

 

Wight Extreme Hike Prize Draw

Saturday 12th August 2006

Prizes for the Wight Extreme Hike Prize Draw:

Our thanks to the companies and individuals who have kindly donated the following prizes for the draw:

Mountain Bike - donated by Wight Mountain, Newport, Isle of Wight.

Digital Camera - donated by Condor Office Solutions Ltd, Southampton.

Meal for four at the Farringford Hotel - donated by the Farringford Hotel, Freshwater, Isle of Wight:

Round the Island pleasure flight - donated by Sandown Airport, Isle of Wight

Colour printer/scanner/copier - donated by Staples, Newport, Isle of Wight

DVD Player - donated by Argos, Newport, Isle of Wight

MP3 Player - donated by Argos, Newport, Isle of Wight

Meal for 4 at the Chicago Rock cafe, Newport, Isle of Wight - donated by Chicago Rock Cafe

Meal for 2 at Olivos, Newport, Isle of Wight - donated by Olivos, Isle of Wight (tel.: 530001)

Meal for 2 at the Wheatsheaf Hotel, Newport - donated by the Wheatsheaf Hotel, Newport, Isle of Wight

£20 voucher for Pizza Hut - donated by Pizza Hut, Newport, Isle of Wight

Four tickets for Cineworld - donated by Cineworld, Newport, Isle of Wight

Ten DVD/Video rentals - donated by 24 Self Video, Newport, Isle of Wight

Tandem paraglide - donated by Paul Street

Hitachi 4" Disc Grinder and 9" disc Grinder - donated by Sydenhams

Cut, blow dry and manicure - donated by Take Two, Newport

Fishing Rod and Reel - donated by Scotties, Newport, Isle of Wight

Starter fish tank - donated by Hunnyhill Aqautics, Newport, Isle of Wight

Large cuddly toy - donated by Wessex Cancer Trust

Stanley Tool Box - daonted by Moreys, Newport, Isle of Wight

Set of Stanley chisels and screwdrivers - donated by Moreys, Medina Avenue, Newport

50m, 4 way extension lead - donated by Moreys, Ryde, Isle of Wight

Fleece and safety sunglasses - donated by Moreys, Sandown, Isle of Wight

Carling sports bag and football - donated by Wessex Cancer Trust

Ice bucket, tray and bottles of bubbly - donated by Wessex Cancer Trust

Mini fridge - donated by Wessex Cancer Trust

Hammer drill - donated by B&Q, Newport, Isle of Wight

Tickets for the draw are available now at £1 each: visit www.firefighterchallenge.co.uk for details.

Businessess and individuals may donate a prize for the draw:

visit www.firefighterchallenge.co.uk for more details or telephone 01982 525 121.

The draw will take place on the evening of Saturday 12th August 2006 from 7.30pm at Newport Fire Station Social and Sports Club, Fire Station, South Street, Newport, Isle of Wight.

Donations to the Appeal

The public and local business can sponsor the team securely online at

www.firefighterchallenge.co.uk or send a cheque/postal order (made payable to

‘Wessex Wight Appeal’) to

Wight Extreme Hike, Fire Station, South Street, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 1JQ.

All proceeds raised will go to the Wessex Wight Appeal in aid of the Isle of Wight

Chemotherapy Unit.

 

Wight Extreme Hike Screen Wash, Saturday 22 June 2006

Firefighters staged a screen wash at Newport Fire Station on Saturday 22nd June 2006, in aid of the appeal, and raised £800.

All proceeds raised went to the Wessex Wight Appeal in aid of the Isle of Wight

Chemotherapy Unit.

 

Ends

 

Notes to Editors:

A high resolution image of the presentation photograph can be downloaded from the Media and Press section.

The Wight Extreme Hike is being undertaken to raise money for the Wessex Wight Appeal from the Wessex Cancer Trust, which is raising funds for the Isle of Wight Chemotherapy Unit. The challenge is for a team of Firefighters from Green Watch, Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service, Newport Fire Station, Isle of Wight, to walk around the shoreline (a distance of approximately 72 miles) of the Isle of Wight over three days.

Further details, along with media and press information and images (at resolution suitable for print and web), on the challenge are available on the challenge website: www.firefighterchallenge.co.uk.

Contact for the Wight Extreme Hike is Jason Butchers (telephone: 01983 755 484) or Ryan Copeland

(telephone: 07813 469 051), Green Watch, Newport Fire Station, Isle of Wight: telephone: 01983 525 121 (Isle of Wight Fire Control) or contact us.

For further information on the Firefighter Challenge for the Wessex Wight Appeal contact June Ring, Wessex Cancer Trust: telephone 01983 755 652.