This September, Rowcroft Hospice invites you to take the plunge in its exciting stand up paddle boarding event, ‘SUP Your Way’, where SUP newbies and seasoned pros alike will glide across South Devon’s beautiful waters in a sponsored paddle to raise vital funds to care for local people with life-limiting illnesses and their families. Supported by Red Paddle Co of Totnes — a leading paddle boarding business and global brand — the event will run over nine days starting Saturday 11 September to Sunday 19 September 2021. Participants will create their own route — of 5km, 10km or another distance of their choice — and then paddle at any time that suits them during that period.
Stand up paddleboarding is said to be Britain’s fastest-growing watersport and it’s taken off in a huge way on Devon’s waterways.
“Following the success of last year’s inaugural SUP event, we’re running SUP Your Way again this September to make the most of the booming trend in paddle boarding!” said Alison Upton, Community Fundraising Manager at Rowcroft Hospice. “We’re encouraging everyone to join in and have a go while raising vital money for the hospice at the same time. People can choose when, how and where they paddle. It can be a chance to get together with friends, have a fun family day out, or enjoy a peaceful paddle with someone special. You might like to SUP at dawn taking a flask of coffee and a croissant; or take a picnic and make a day of it. That’s the beauty of this event: you do it your way!
“It’s a fantastic chance for people to support the hospice while enjoying a new challenge that makes the most of our stunning seascapes and rivers. What’s not to love?!”
The event is open to all – from SUP beginners to proficient experts, and costs just £5 to sign up here. All participants are asked to raise over £20 in sponsorship (or make a £20 donation to Rowcroft). Paddlers raising over £50 in sponsorship will be awarded a free Red Original cap; those raising over £150 will receive a Red Original Quick Dry Robe worth £48; and the top two fundraisers will receive a Pro Change Robe worth £145. All participants will be entered into a large grand prize draw to be in with a chance of winning a selection of prizes worth over £200.
Charlie Green, Head of Marketing at Red Paddle Co, said:
“We are thrilled to be supporting Rowcroft again this year in the hospice’s second stand up paddle board event. As a global paddle board brand, we’re calling on our community both near to us in South Devon but also far and wide, and we will be encouraging as many people as possible to take part in SUP – Your Way. It’s a great opportunity to explore local waterways while supporting an incredible cause.”
Funds raised from this year’s SUP event will help fund Rowcroft’s Hospice at Home service that provides expert care, support and compassion to local patients at home in their last two weeks of life. This vital service makes such a difference for families across the South Devon region – from Dartmouth to Dawlish and up onto Dartmoor. The charity hopes to expand the Hospice at Home service by recruiting more nurses and healthcare assistants in order to support more local families in need.
“Our patients tell us that, for them, home is where the heart is, and more than anywhere else they would prefer to be at home when they die,” said Karenne Weaver, Rowcroft’s Hospice at Home Manager. “Through Hospice at Home, we enable patients to fulfil this wish. The money raised by SUP – Your Way will be crucial in helping us to expand our Hospice at Home service so that more people can feel the love and support of Rowcroft’s care in the place where they want it most – at home.”
For further details or to sign-up to SUP Your Way, click here.