Wightlink Wight Challenge is 10 years old

The Wightlink Wight Challenge is 10 years old

The Wightlink Wight Challenge charity event has made it to double figures. Now in its tenth anniversary year it has opened up for entries with teams invited to enter the September event on the beautiful Isle of Wight. Could you cycle 19 miles, canoe 2 miles and run 8 miles in a team of three? Teams are also requested to raise money for Wessex Heartbeat, Sail 4 Cancer and The Rainbow Centre, all emotive charities with local links. 

Wightlink have signed up to support the Wight Challenge as title sponsors for another three years. This is a fantastic boost for the event and enables us to keep improving the event so that it remains popular for many years to come.

Daisy Dawes from Wightlink "Wightlink is pleased to continue our support for this grueling event that has raised so much money for good causes over the years. We are proud to have sponsored the Wight Challenge ever since it started. We would urge our customers to rise to the challenge and join the keen fundraisers on the day."

Since 2004, the event has raised over £191,600 and if past totals are anything to go by we will definitely break the £200,000 mark this year but that can only happen with amazing and adventurous people signing up to take part!

The triathlon style event will take place on Saturday 20 September from the event hub at Jersey Camp in Porchfield on the Isle of Wight. It is a great location and the route from there takes you out towards the West Wight and the fantastic views across to the needles are breathtaking and really worth making the effort for.

Joanna Minchin who has run the event since it began is taking on her own challenge this year by sailing round the Atlantic with her family but she has left the event in the capable hands of event organiser Claire Critchison who has previously organised the Isle of Wight Cycling Festival and been involved with many other popular island events as well as running her own event management and catering business Wight Vintage.

Lizette van Niekerk from Sail 4 Cancer "This Challenge has made such a different to our ability to help more families have a break from the stress of living with cancer. The teams who take part are enthusiastic fundraisers who really want to make a difference and they also enjoy the sense of camaraderie that is a characteristic of this event. We are so grateful for their ongoing support."

Tina from Wessex Heartbeat "We are once again pleased to be associated with the Wightlink Wight Challenge particularly as it goes into its 10th year, the participants are challenged as well as having lots of fun, fundraising for charity. Funds raised this year for Wessex Heartbeat will help towards the running costs of Heartbeat House which provides a refuge for relatives of patients whilst their loved ones are staying in the Wessex Cardiac Centre at Southampton General Hospital."

Jess Greenwood from The Rainbow Centre "The Challenge has become one of the events we look forward to every year because of the incredible support we receive from everyone participating, and the huge amount of fun had by all. This event helps us fund our life changing services which benefit children with cerebral palsy, and adults with Parkinson’s, Multiple Sclerosis and stroke."

Many clubs and businesses are involved in making sure it is a well run day and that all competitors are well looked after. We are seeking sponsorship to help run the event, so if you can offer your support by sponsoring a canoe, donating products or physical assistance then please get in touch. If not then get some friends together and enter a team!

Registration Forms can be downloaded from the website www.wightchallenge.co.uk . The entry fee remains at £45 and each person is requested to raise a minimum of £100 for the three charities. With teams returning year after year, and many new ones signed up so far, why not come along and be part of the 2014 Wightlink Wight Challenge.

Contact Claire Critchison by email info@wightchallenge.co.uk or telephone 07855 022429.