The Wirral Kayak Challenge Event 2023 hopes to raise over £10,000 this year.
The Wirral Kayak Challenge was started back in 2012, and now, 10 years later, they have raised over £63,000 for local charities based in the Wirral.
Every year in April, applications start for all participants, charging £35 per person, and everyone is asked to raise a minimum of £100 per person via sponsorship for local charities.
This year’s chosen charities were Claire House Children’s Hospice, Stick n Step, and The Holistic Cancer Centre.
This year, the fund-raisers left Harrison Drive Beach in New Brighton at around 7am on Sunday morning.
New Brighton’s RNLI came out and joined the fundraisers to help support the event, which included 122 participants and 12 paddleboarders.
After a quick stop on the sandbank close to Hoylake Lifeboat Station for around 20 minutes, everyone got back in and carried on to the sandbank behind Hilbre Island, which took approx. 3 hours from Harrison Drive. Once they arrived at Hilbre Island, the group was there for approximately 4 hours before leaving on the incoming tide and heading up the River Dee to finish at Dee Sailing Club Thurstaston.
When they arrived, New Brighton Radio was there with two great bands, Mule Train and Powerage UK, and was greeted by Ian McCoy, the magician. Supportive charities were also there to greet people, including the Holistic Cancer Centre.
It was a fantastic day all around for raising money for local charities, seeing as everything went to plan.
Prior to the event, participants had radio interviews with Billy Butler and New Brighton Radio and saw lots of social media advertising.
The event has seen 28 local businesses involved with the kayak event this year, with Yamaha Marine UK being their biggest supporter, contributing over £1,000 for fuel for all safety coats and jet skies.
This year, they are hoping to raise over £10.000.
P.S. One of the participants lost her Ray–Ban pink aviator sunglasses while taking on the charity challenge. If you come across these on one of the region’s beaches, then please contact Lesley Butler via social media; she will be so grateful.
You can donate towards the cause here.
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