WHAT IS IT?

The biggest charity kite surfing event of 2010 has been announced. The Big Downwinder will take place in aid of the Julia’s House children’s hospice’s Pyjama Appeal which is raising funds to provide overnight care to life-threatened and life-limited children in Dorset.

Intrepid kite surfers will kite downwind from Sandbanks in Poole to Boscombe Pier in Bournemouth. The organisers of this unique event are now accepting donations of £22 from anyone who is up for a challenge. It is hoped that up to 100 people will take part.

WHEN IS IT?

Saturday 13th March but if the wind does not appear we will defer to Sunday 14th March.

WHOSE IS COMING?

The Big Downwinder is open to riders of ALL STANDARDS from being able to ride upwind through to full Pro status. The event has the support of many of the world’s top kitesurfers including the 5 times Men’s World Champion Aaron Hadlow, KPWT World Wave Champions Abel Lago and Britains very own Kirsty Jones and Spain’s Jo Ciastula. Kite company, Flexifoil, are supporting the event by donating a generous quantity of kit for participants and International Pro Riders will be on-hand to chat before taking part themselves.

Local companies like, Oceanos Watersports, H20 Watersports, Poole Harbour Watersports, The Flexifoil Pro Centre and Animal are also supporting the event by donating prizes for auctions and raffles. Teams of supporters will be walking along the stretch of beach with collection buckets (Mums and Dad feel free to help) and there will be a cheery barbecue at Boscombe Pier to round off the day hosted by The Sorted Surf Shop.

HOW CAN I JOIN?
To find out more and to take part, please call Chris Skone-Roberts on 07970 000078 or email chris@lazyblueskies.com. A donation of just £22 secures you a place, an incredible bag of goodies from our sponsors, a sponsorship form as well as free entry into the raffle.

WHY ARE WE DOING IT?

The Julia’s House Pyjama Appeal needs to raise £400,000 to run the overnight service for the coming year at the charity’s hospice in Corfe Mullen. The new service will allow families of life-limited children to access full weekend respite breaks and also round-the-clock end-of-life care.
Julia’s House is Dorset’s hospice dedicated to children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions. The majority of the children that it cares for are unlikely to live into adulthood.

HOW CAN I DONATE?

We have a donations page set up at Chris Skone-Roberts is fundraising for Julia's House - JustGiving Please donate to this incredibly moving charity.

CAN I GET INVOLVED?

Absolutely, even if you do not kitesurf please get in touch with us as this is your chance to get involved. Mums, Dads, Sisters, Brothers, even the family pet. You can all help us by spreading the word of the above donations site, putting up a poster, asking for a sponsorship/donations form, arranging a collections at work or school and of course our visiting facebook page. (Add me as a friend and I will join you up – Chris Skone-Roberts)

WILL MY MONEY REALLY HELP?

£5 could buy a sensory toy for a blind child
£15 could pay for a bereavement box for a sibling
£25 could pay for a tactile game to aid sensory development
£60 covers the average cost of a Care session in a family home
£100 pays for an hour’s care at the hospice for a group of children
£500 covers the cost of a morning’s care at the hospice
£1,000 will pay for a night’s care at the hospice for a group of children

WHERE ELSE CAN I GET INFO?

Please go and see any of our incredible list of supporters below

Or visit Julia's House - Homepage and remember to donate at Chris Skone-Roberts is fundraising for Julia's House - JustGiving

Please do pass the word around and know that everything you do helps us no matter how small.