A charity supporting cystic fibrosis has announced a 30 mile stand up paddle board fundraising challenge.
The event that will take place on June 6, organised by Stand Up to Cystic Fibrosis (SUP2CF), will see up to 100 volunteers stand up paddle board 30 miles from Weymouth to Bournemouth.
The 4:00am start will be marked by releasing 65 roses into the ocean for the many young children who pronounce their condition as ’sixty-five roses’, a term now trademarked by the CF Trust, and will represent those lost and those living in hope.
Though the risk of passing bugs to each other means that two people with CF can’t meet face to face, SUP2CF is welcoming people with cystic fibrosis and working closely with the CF Trust to implement safety measures and let CF Warriors support one another.
The Barrett family (Credit Kay Young Photography)
The event is being organised by Laura and Kevin Barrett, pictured, who have an 18-month-old son living with the genetic condition.
“After a torrid start to life in Great Ormond Street Hospital, our third son Bailey was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis.” They told BH Living.
“Lost as to how to help, we decided we would ask friends to sponsor us to SUP from Weymouth to Bournemouth, a place we had both spent our childhood summers and is now our second home.”
The route will take volunteers along the Jurassic Coastline, passing landmarks such as Durdle Door, Lulworth Cove and Old Harry Rocks before arriving onto Bournemouth beach.
The challenge is expected to take up to 8-10 hours to complete with a target of raising £20,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.
Volunteers will need to sign up online and pay the £100 registration fee to cover costs. To find out more, click here or visit their Instagram page @SUP2CF.
If you’d like to donate to the cause, click here to visit their JustGiving page