Joe’s banner heads for the moon

Cornish toddler Joe Way who died in May 2008 has another challenge in his memory. After another successful Paddle for life in September this year, the appeal raised over £92,000.00 in just over two years.

The original Paddle for Life started after lifeguards from Fistral Beach held a Joe Way memorial paddle to raise money for charity in 2008 after the Newquay toddler passed away after battling numerous rare conditions to read Joe’s story go to www.joeway.co.uk Joes small banner has already travelled the equivalent of seven times around the world clocking up 270,000 km. Team Joe are now looking to get the figure up 400,000 km which is the equivalent of travelling from the earth to the moon.

The small light weight banner has been taken under water, up mountains, out to sea by surfers and strapped to Joes dad when he did a parachute jump

Joe's dad said "the idea is a simple one, just take one of Joes banners on a trip get a photo and email it to us, Scott Dickenson, the charities web developer has designed an amazing global map showing all the locations of the banner visits including photos. It’s a great and fun way of getting Joes story out to new people".

Perranporth Signs who where a big sponsor of this year’s paddle have just donated more banners which are ready to go global. If you are going away and would like to take part in this challenge, please call Matt Way on 07761079454 to get your banner.

Click here to go to our global map...

Symbolic ceremony a moment to treasure at Little Harbour

Saturday 9th October marked an important day for Children’s Hospice South West’s Precious Lives Appeal.

The Little Harbour site was buzzing as supporters gathered to watch the symbolic laying of the foundation stone by the Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall and the burial of the ‘Treasured Memories Chest’.

 The chest contains warm wishes and treasured memories from supporters around Cornwall and Plymouth, collected with the help of Pirate FM, and the stone bears the inscription “Do not forget to welcome strangers, for by doing that some people have entertained angels without knowing it” (Hebrews Chapter 13, Verse 2).

When it is built Little Harbour will be a welcoming home for families with life-limited children from Cornwall and Plymouth; a comforting, fun, and caring place aimed at making the most of short and precious lives. This will not be possible without the support of local people, and during the ceremony Children’s Hospice South West Co-Founder and Chief Executive Eddie Farwell revealed that the Precious Lives Appeal, to fund the build, was now in the final strait with £4 million raised to date and £1 million to go. Words were also heard from CHSW Chairman of Trustees Trevor Lloyd, CHSW Head of Fundraising (West) Emma Lloyd, and bereaved mum Kym Sefton from Camborne.

Eddie Farwell, CHSW Co-Founder and Chief Executive, says: “This ceremony is important to mark what we have achieved so far and look forward to where we are going. It is so exciting to think that by this time next year we should be very close to opening the doors of Little Harbour to the first families.

“We have watched Little Harbour rise up from the ground since April and start to take shape and we are now reaching the final phase of our Precious Lives Appeal which is fantastic news. We must not however lose sight of the fact that we still have £1 million to raise.

“The families of Cornwall and Plymouth who have children who are not expected to reach adulthood really need this hospice, and with the continued support of local people, businesses, and organisations we can ensure this happens.

Joe's Paddle Crowned a Success...

With great weather conditions and outstanding community spirit the Paddle for Life Event was a resounding success on Thursday 23rd September down on Newquay Harbour.

The event saw over 200 paddlers of all ages and abilities taking part to do their bit to raise money for their chosen charities, of which 20 charities will benefit from this single event. One of the many charities which took part in the paddle was the ‘Cornwall Blind Association’ lead by British champion Jonny Fryer. Ben Ford, one of the team riders (paddler) for the association had this to say about the event; “We can’t thank the Joe Way Paddle for Life team enough, their dedication to Joe’s story means surfers like us can really get involved in fundraising for our own charities”.

Over 600 spectators cheered on the paddlers, buying raffle tickets and taking part in the evening’s auction. With £5000 raised, the 2010 paddle looks set to be the most successful to date with the number of entrants and spectators.

Tiger 24 kindly donated their services, providing a live stream of the event to hundreds of online watchers many of whom used the new iphone app to watch the event on their phones. They also kept the crowds on the harbour entertained with their witty banter. Bookers wholesalers provided over £500 worth of burgers, sausages and rolls to create what can only be described as a barbeque of epic proportions. With the crowd fed and watered, the biggest highlight of the day made its appearance...TITAN THE ROBOT.

The towering 7.2 foot robot made its appearance in the early evening, ahead of the auction and live music at Newquay Rowing club. Titan the robot was present for around half an hour and interacted by singing, dancing and joking with the gathering crowds and local media.

Talking about the event and the inspirational companies and paddlers that helped the 2010 paddle event become the success it was, Matt Way had this to say about the day; “Joe’s short but action packed life has inspired businesses to provide backing to this community event and the paddlers have provided the inspiration to take one small boys story and make it their own by doing something amazing for a cause they are passionate about”.

Matt paddled the Joe Way longboard donated to him by Ben skinner’s surfboard factory team who also paddled. Matt completed the 1km along with the Cornwall Hospice Care team which included the charities financial Director who is also a keen surfer and two girls from Pirate FM who had never paddled that far but completed the course after a bigger board was jet skied out to them half way through.

Tom Butler last years number 2 in the UK surf rankings and one of Joe’s team riders provided water cover on Hendra Holiday Parks donated Jet Ski along with help from Lusty glaze and others. As of last years paddle Newquay surf life savers had their heats and supported the whole event.