The WakeScot crew have set a challenge to anyone looking to have some fun on Saturday 14th August to come and try wakeboarding with them on Loch Earn and at the same time raise some funds for WakeScot’s selected charity, International Rescue Corps.
International Rescue Corps (IRC) are a specialist Urban Search and Rescue team responding to natural and man made disasters all over the world using their specialist skills and equipment to rescue trapped people. Their mission is ‘United To Save Life’ and this ethos applies to every action of their volunteer specialists. Willie McMartin from IRC explained, ‘We are supported entirely by donations made by the public and corporate sponsorship. Every penny goes towards saving lives as we do not employ staff in administration, fundraising or any other role in the Corps. We are a UK based charity and offer our services completely free of charge, whether in the UK or overseas. We are delighted that organisers of WakeScot, Active Scotland Outdoor Activities have chosen us to raise some funds for.’
Public spend on leisure activities seems to be down this year which may have something to do with the financial climate we are all in but WakeScot organisers Barry and Matt McGrandles are hoping for a bumper weekend at their base in Lochearnhead. ‘Last year there was around 300 of a crowd at WakeScot and as the leading development wakeboarding event in Scotland we are not only trying to encourage new participants in this sport but also use it as a platform to raise some funds for IRC.’ Barry went on to say, ‘It’s only going to cost £10 for a wakeboarding taster session and we will supply all the gear if necessary. For every £10 taken for the taster sessions we will give £5 to IRC funds.’
Matt mentioned, ‘we think this is a great charity to support as we appreciate what these guys do. As the main operator on Loch Earn it is Barry and I that are called if anyone is in trouble on the water. We do this voluntarily and although this year has been better, last year we had several calls which we attended. The closest call was a drowning canoeist where I had to run through several people to be able to jump in the Loch to save him. Thankfully I managed to turn him over and bring him to shore.’
In the lead up to WakeScot the guys already have more entries pre-registered than this time last year so all is looking good for a cracking event. The coaching clinic with Brett Hodgkins starts at 9am with only a few spaces left. The competition starts at 1pm with junior men and women categories, followed by rookie men and women and finishing with the more accomplished riders of open men and women. All riders are not only competing for a podium place but The Jamie MacGregor Cup which was donated by the brothers in memory of their friend who sadly died early last year.
The event is free to come and watch and there are plenty of parking spaces at their base next to the Clachan Cottage Hotel or in the public car park just 400 meters from where all the fun is happening. Further details can be found at www.wakescot.com
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment