WPNSA and Dorset Police host BBC Children In Need rowing fundraiser

by Fast Track Sailing on 18 Nov 2009 The Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA) welcomed members of the local community and the Dorset Police on the 16 November for the Children In Need rowing fundraiser. The public competed on 500m time trials, the same exercise used to fitness test elite athletes. The Dorset Police started rowing the distance from the WPNSA, the 2012 Sailing Venue to the Olympic Venue in Stratford which they will continue throughout the week to cover the total distance of 125 miles.

Children in Need is the BBC’s annual UK charity and involves people across the country taking part in activities to help raise funds to improve the lives of disadvantaged children and young people. During 2008 the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy supported 150 local Dorset children to take part in a rowathon and were able to contribute to BBC Children in Need’s appeal which nationally raised an amazing £38 million.

WPNSA work very closely with the local community which includes the local police services and were delighted to host the local team of 10 for the start of their epic journey. Throughout the week the Dorset Olympic & Paralympic Security Planning Team will be using all their free time to complete the journey and will be doing so all over Weymouth and Portland. The team will taking the rowing machine around the town encouraging the public to enter the competition to row 500m the fastest. The member of the public to row this distance the fastest will win lunch for two in the Spinnakers restaurant at WPNSA.

Rachel Sadler, Assistant Chief Executive, WPNSA stated: ‘It is very important for the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy to be involved in national charity initiatives which involve essential members of our local community. This evening has been a fun active event but one which is certainly going to test the Police over the next few days. They did incredibly well covering one third of the distance tonight. The Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy team are particularly grateful for the excellent support we receive from the local South West emergency services and are pleased that they are pulling together to raise funds for BBC Children in Need, a much loved and appreciated UK charity’.

www.wpnsa.org.uk