09 August 2007
9th August 07
The total is a £17,000 increase from the monies raised at last year’s event and will have a substantial impact on The Trusts activities for 2008. Due to the funds raised at Skandia Cowes Week 2006, The Trust doubled the amount of children it took sailing, worked with four new hospitals and established a residential sailing course for those kids who wanted to come back and do more sailing, this new total means even more opportunities for children all over the UK to join The Trust in the future.
On the official charity day (Monday 6th August), The Trust kicked off events with the announcement of a new share giving scheme; the scheme allows individuals to reclaim income tax relief on the market value of the shares donated, for higher rate tax payers this equates to 40% tax relief on donations. Charity activities continued throughout the day as The Trust urged everyone to ‘Turn Skandia Cowes Week Blue’ with prizes awarded to the best efforts on the day. The day’s events culminated with the sold out Ellen MacArthur Trust Ball, an evening of high emotion, dancing and exceptional fundraising which raised an amazing £78,000. Title sponsor Skandia’s official Cowes Week Ball on Tuesday 7th August contributed a further £25,000, pushing the total above the £100,000 mark. All week volunteers have been tirelessly selling raffle tickets and Liz Earle Skincare lanyards from The Trust’s stand raising an additional £4000, The Trust would like to say a huge thank you to Liz Earle for all their support during this week. Other activities at The stand included the opportunity to take on the professionals and try to beat times set on the simulator by the likes of Ellen MacArthur and Shirley Robertson, many thanks to Indoor Sailing for arranging for the simulator to be at the stand during Cowes Week.
Ellen MacArthur Trust Patron said, “Everyone involved in The Ellen MacArthur Trust has put in a magnificent effort this week to help us raise just over £107,000. We have been overwhelmed not only by the amount of money raised, but also by the interest and support for The Trust from people who weren’t aware of us before this week. We have had 11 children down to race with us all week and for some who have never sailed before, they have had a great experience and more importantly a lot of fun. The money raised from this week will allow us to expand even more, working with new hospitals and taking more children from all over the UK out sailing in the future. To break the £100,000 mark is totally overwhelming and I can’t even begin to thank everyone for their support throughout this week”.
Skandia Cowes Week has seen 11 youngsters from all over the UK racing and crewing on the yacht Scarlet Oyster for The Ellen MacArthur Trust. Considering many of the children have never sailed before, they have done an exceptional job out on the water, maintaining a respectable position within the second half of their class. The Ellen MacArthur Trust would like to thank everyone at Skandia, the team at Cowes Combined Clubs, Volkswagen, Champagne G.H. Mumm, Cowes Yacht Haven and Liz Earle for their amazing support this week.
The Ellen MacArthur Trust is already taking advanced table bookings for their 2008 Skandia Cowes Week Ball and you can contact [email protected] for more information or reservations.