Jersey to Bad Wurzach and back 2013
The Liberation Challenge.
On 26th April 2013, 6 cyclists will leave Jersey to attempt to cycle from St. Malo to Bad Wurzach, Germany AND BACK, in time to arrive in Jersey on Liberation Day a distance of approx. 1,300 miles there and back.
Purpose
Locally – To raise money for the British Red Cross to purchase and equip an Emergency Support Services vehicle for Jersey that will support our Emergency Services and be manned by a new volunteer Emergency Response Team.
Internationally – to support the Disaster Fund, helping people throughout the world in times of crisis.
Background to the Challenge.
The connection between the Red Cross and the Channel Islands is very strong and emotive – the Red Cross food parcels delivered to the islands from late 1944 until the end of the occupation were delivered by the Red Cross ship, SS Vega. Many islanders who lived through this period saying how much they owed to the Red Cross for these parcels (the monies to purchase these parcels having been donated and packed by the kind people of Canada and New Zealand).
The Red Cross also supplied parcels to the internees and islanders who were deported to the civilian internment camp at Bad Wurzach during the war.
St. Helier and Bad Wurzach are twinned and the Committees in both places were extremely keen to be involved in the event.
Originally the idea of Murray Norton, he and Nick Chandler, Operations Manager, British Red Cross, Channel Islands put forward the proposal to undertake the challenge to coincide with Red Cross week and Liberation Day on May 9th, with the Lieutenant-Governor, Sir John McColl and Lady Gene McColl (Patron of the Red Cross in Jersey), and Bailiff, Sir Michael Birt, giving the cycle challenge their full support.
We will be leaving Jersey on the evening of Friday 26th April to start the challenge on the morning of Saturday 27th April; we hope to return to Jersey in time for the morning of Thursday 9th May to join the Liberation Day celebrations at Liberation Square and the Weighbridge.
We are all volunteers, with a span of cycling ability experience from the adept to the very modest, and with the help of a support team (also volunteers) will attempt this challenge to try and raise as much money as possible for the British Red Cross.
Sponsorship
We require sponsorship, both corporate and public to raise money for the purchase and equipping of the Jersey Emergency Support Services vehicle. This vehicle which has the full endorsement of the Emergency Services and the Emergency Planning Department will be there to help islanders in times of crisis. It will be able to offer comfort, a hot drink, clothes, pet baskets, a telephone to use, a shower etc. and a place of safety in time of need.
The Team.
Murray Norton, BBC Radio Jersey presenter and restauranteur.
Nick Thomas, Owner of Boudins Bikes.
Kieron Strecker, Citi Bank, Jersey, Risk Manager.
Marc Le Sueur, HSBC Expat, Relationship Manager
Chris Stone, BBC Radio Jersey Presenter
Nick Chandler, Operations Manager for the British Red Cross in the Channel Islands.
Kieron Strecker, Citibank Channel Islands, Risk Manager.
Angela Francey, Administration Co-ordinator for the challenge and Jersey, Germany and States Departments liaison.
Cassie Herdman, Driver, fixer and Physiotherapist at Lido Spinal Clinic
Ian Le Sueur, Driver, fixer and owner of Kandidprints
Sam Lauder, Driver, fixer and self-employed Computer Consultant / Engineer
We hope that our challenge will be supported by the people of Jersey and we have a twitter page@JSY2BadWurzach and a facebook page: Bad Wurzach and Back – The Liberation Challenge.
Our giving page is:
http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/www.redcross.org.uk
Our Website is:
http://www.liberationchallenge.org.uk
Many thanks for your Support.
The Jersey to Bad Wurzach and Back Team.
Nick Chandler
Operations Manager,British Red Cross,Channel islands.
1st Floor,
32, Queen Street,
St. Helier,
Jersey.
JE2 4WD
Telephone:01534 639895
Mobile: 07730 090878
E-mail: nchandler@redcross.org.uk