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Charity challenges you to "lap" the Island

Charity challenges you to

Sunday 27 November 2016

Charity challenges you to "lap" the Island

Sunday 27 November 2016


A local charity has thrown down the gauntlet again and is challenging you to do a "lap" of Jersey next Summer.

The Grace Crocker Family Support Foundation's Round Island Challenge is back on 12 August and this time around you may even be able to windsurf your way around!

The event is inspired by a race in 2015 when two local athletes and business partners Simon O’Donoghue and Aidan McAvinue went head to head to see who could get around the Island fastest – one running, the other swimming. 

More than a hundred athletes took part last year in the gruelling event that got listed by Red Bull as one of their top 11 UK Extreme Challenges.

Competitors can circumnavigate the Island on their own or as part of a relay and last year's big fundraiser saw people swimming round, running, stand-up paddle boarding, rowing and canoeing and there are now plans for people to windsurf and cycle their way around.

The 2016 event raised over £25,000 to pay for a dedicated liaison nurse for the charity that was set up by Sara and Nigel Crocker in January 2011 in memory of their daughter Grace who needed open heart surgery aged just five days old, and who later died aged 11 weeks. They've since help dozens of other families from Jersey  who need to spend time in the UK whilst their children receive medical treatment in a hospital and helped cover the cost of flights to the UK, accommodation and living expenses.

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The charity is now in talks with specialist support agencies, the independent lobby group Jersey Community Partnership, and the Health Minister about how the role develops.

Nigel Crocker, Founder of the Grace Crocker Family Support Foundation, said: “This is such a brilliant example of the generosity and energy in Jersey’s community; Aidan, Simon and literally hundreds of others have committed themselves to our cause and this outcome will have a direct positive impact on Jersey society. We have more plans for 2017 and beyond.”

The charity hopes next Summer's challenge will raise more than £30,000 to fund a collaboration with other charities and Andium Homes for flexible UK accommodation for Jersey families whose children need specialist treatment.

Smith & Williamson are sponsoring the event again next year and the Jersey Long Distance Swimming Club, Jersey Rowing Club, Jersey Paddle Club and Jersey Canoe Club will all be on hand again to support and guide anyone who is taking on the challenge.

You can find out more about the event here.

 

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