Student relay for Cornwall-based charity

After setting off from Prince of Wales pier, Falmouth, at 9am on Saturday 16 June a group of 40 students will be cycling, running, night-hiking, kayaking, gig rowing and swimming around the county. Funds are being raised for ShelterBox, the Helston-based charity working to aid the victims of natural disasters and conflict across the globe.

This is the third year of this relay. In May 2010 it was completed in 36 hours, raising £3,900 for the charity. In March 2011 the relay time was slashed to 32 hours and raised a further £4,500. This year, inspired by the Olympic torch relay’s journey around the South West in May, Rally4ShelterBox hopes to improve its time as well as celebrate raising over £10,000.

Alex Lewis-Johns, 3rd year Geography student says: “This fundraising challenge began in 2010 and stemmed from the news of the Haiti earthquake. A small group of geography students acknowledged the tremendous efforts of ShelterBox and wanted to create an event that would both educate students about the charity’s work as well as raise as much money for them as possible. This year we’ll be battling through winds and rain but we’re really excited.”

A collection for ShelterBox on the streets of Falmouth took place on Saturday 9 June and Sunday 10 June raising £757.63 and £244.25 respectively. Another collection organised by students on Saturday 2 June up in Plympton raised another £235.35 for the cause.

A donations webpage has just been set up for the event.

Skinners Brewery has sponsored the event since its inauguration, and the relay baton is a bottle of Betty Stoggs ale.