What is the Wight Challenge?

What:           A cycling, running and open canoeing challenge

How:            In teams of three

Why:            To have fun and raise money for Dreams Come True Charity

Where:         On the Isle of Wight

When:          20th September 2008

We are looking for adventurous and fun-loving people from all over the UK to take part in the fifth Wight Challenge, which is again part of the Isle of Wight Council’s annual Cycling Festival.

By raising sponsorship, teams will help make dreams come true for terminally and seriously ill children.
Please read through the DREAM SHEET attached and be inspired to help us raise even more money this year.

Venue
The event will be based at Jersey Camp in Porchfield, thanks to the invaluable support of SERFCA. (South East Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association).
Grid Ref: SZ44359085.

Cycling – 20 miles
Starting at 30s intervals, teams join the bridleway south which then meets the scenic Tennyson Trail up on the Downs.  Follow the Trail to Freshwater, the old railway line cycle track by the River Yar to Yarmouth, then ride through Thorley, Wellow, Shalfleet, Newtown and back to Jersey Camp. Exchange your bikes for running shoes.  NO SHORT CUTS – there are checkpoint marshals (with water) along the way!
 
Running – 8 miles NEW ROUTE
The run route follows the coastal path from Porchfield, via Thorness to Gurnard. Then south down Rew Street and on towards Parkhurst Forest. Follow the track along the north of Parkhurst Forest, returning to the road for the final leg back to Jersey Camp.

Open Canoeing – 3 miles
In Canadian open canoes, your team of three now paddles up the Clamerkin Lake on the Newtown River, following marker buoys to complete a circuit. This route will be altered to match the weather, if conditions are calm, then the length of the canoe will be 3 miles, if windy it will be much shorter. The open canoes are easily handled and safe and will be under the guidance of instructors afloat in safety boats and kayaks.

Whilst they do not require previous experience, we do recommend that you have a practice. Practice evenings can be arranged directly with the Island Youth Water Activities Centre in Cowes, ("IYWAC") in the weeks running up to the Wight Challenge.  Tel 01983 293073.

Teams of Three
Participants should enter as a team of three, and stay together throughout the event, i.e. every member of the team will participate in all 3 sections of the challenge.
Please give yourselves a TEAM NAME and identify a TEAM LEADER.  This team leader will be the main point of contact for the organisers and the charity.

Map Reading
Once Reservation Forms and Entry Fees have been received, a marked O/S map will be sent to the team leader.
On the day, one laminated map per team will be provided for the cycle and the run.  Accurate map reading is essential and you may use a GPS if you wish - there will be NO road signage

Refreshments
Water is available at the checkpoints, refreshments and water are available at both transitions, and supper will be served at the finish in a marquee at Jersey Camp.
Limited space is available for spectators who are most welcome to join in with supper at £10 p/p. Please indicate this on the Reservation Form and send money in with the Entry Fee.
 
Equipment
Bikes: participants can use their own mountain bikes or bikes are available for hire from “Wight Off Road” if required @ £14 per bike (tel: 01983 408587 website: www.wightoffroad.co.uk).
Cycling helmets are essential – sorry, no helmet no Wight Challenge!   Please carry a puncture repair kit and basic first aid kit.

Canoes: all canoe equipment is provided but participants will be liable for any damage caused by misuse. You may wish to bring kneepads for your own comfort.

The Challenge
Each team is timed on each individual discipline with time being taken from the last competitor in the team crossing the line, or when the canoe is carried over the finish.
THE CLOCK STOPS DURING THE TRANSITION PERIODS.

Prize Giving
Goodie bags, souvenirs and certificates are awarded to all those who finish.

Fitness
An adequate standard of fitness is essential. Those not used to such events should start planning a training programme.  Dreams Come True Charity and the organisers will not carry out any pre-event health or fitness checks. If in doubt please take appropriate professional advice now before returning the form. If a problem occurs on the day of the event, let the Wight Challenge First Aider know immediately.

Canoe training
For those wishing to practice their canoeing, practice sessions will take place on Thursday evenings 6pm - 8pm running up to the event at the Island Youth Water Activities Centre in Cowes.
The cost is £20 per person per session.  Please contact IYWAC direct on 01983 293073 to book. Booking Forms will need to be completed. Those who practiced last year benefited greatly.

Who can take part?
Anyone 18 or over.
 
How to Enter and what to do next
· Form a team of three
· Complete a Reservation Form per person
· Post your Reservation Form with Entry Fee of £40 per person made payable to “Wight Challenge”, to: Dreams Come True Charity, Knockhundred House, Knockhundred Row, Midhurst, West Sussex, GU29 9DQ,
· Start practising, and start fundraising

How to get to the Isle of Wight?
We are grateful to Wightlink ferries for supporting the Wight Challenge 2008 by offering reduced ferry fares to all competitors and their supporters.
Once Entry Fees are received, details on how to obtain your tickets will be sent out.

Insurance
The Wight Challenge is part of the IW Council's annual Cycling Festival and is covered by the IW Council’s third party public liability insurance.
However, it is recommended that you take out Personal Insurance for the event.

Event Organiser
The Wight Challenge 2008 is organised by Joanna Minchin, with the support of the Isle of Wight Council.
Contact details: tel: 01983 760 324 and Mobile: 07790 401 036.
Address: Kingsmead, Cooper’s Lane, Wellow, Isle of Wight, PO41 0UJ

Minimum Sponsorship Request
A minimum sponsorship of £200 per team is requested.  All the funds raised through this sponsorship will go to Dreams Come True and should be sent to the charity 28 days after the event.

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We sincerely hope that after reading through this Information Sheet and the DREAM SHEET attached you will enter your team of three into the Wight Challenge 2008.

We look forward to seeing you on Saturday 20th September 2008.
Joanna Minchin - Wight Challenge www.wightchallenge.co.uk
&
Rick Pettipher - Dreams Come True Charity www.dctc.org.uk
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DREAM SHEET - Dreams Come True Charity
Dreams Come True Charity exists to bring some laughter and happiness into the lives of the terminally and seriously ill children, aged between 2-21 from all over Great Britain.

What happened to the funds raised from The Wight Challenge 2007?
£20,027.44 was raised and has been turned into seven dreams:

David aged 3
David suffers from Cerebral Palsy, which affects all four limbs but especially his legs. He has very limited independent mobility due to his disability.  David dreamt of having his own tricycle to provide him with a lot more independence and help hugely with his therapy programme.   The tricycle has been purchased, and David is riding around happily.

Shannon aged 9
Shannon suffers from Spina Bifida, Cerebral Palsy and Hydrocephalus.  She is unable to walk and as a result is fully dependent on her wheelchair.  Shannon dreamt of visiting Florida to give her many lasting memories whilst boosting her confidence.
Shannon visited at the end of 2007. “Thank you for making Shannon’s dream come true, we will remember this for the rest of our lives.” Shannon’s dad.

Chelsea aged 14
Chelsea was born with Microcephaly, which means the circumference of the head is significantly smaller than the average for her age. She also suffers from Global Development Delay and is partially sighted due to repeated brain surgery.
Chelsea dreamt of swimming with dolphins to uplift and enhance her life and give Chelsea and her family a lasting cherished memory.  The dream was completed in Nov 2007 and she had a wonderful time.

Paul aged 16
Paul suffers from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. He is severely affected by this debilitating condition and also suffers from progressive weight loss.  Paul dreamt of visiting Disneyland Paris to give him a much needed boost and provide him and his family with something to focus on.   “It was a fantastic holiday and I would like to thank everyone at Dreams Come True and the Wight Challenge for making it happen.” Paul

James aged 10
James suffers from Cerebral Palsy. This affects all four limbs, so he is fully dependent on his parents for all his needs as well as regular exercise and support in his walking frame. James dreamt of having a holiday at Centre Parcs to give James a real lift and spend quality time with his parents.  The dream was completed in Nov 2007, James was made very happy.

Sarah aged 21
Sarah developed Hodgkins disease in 2004. After receiving chemotherapy and radiotherapy, she was told by her doctors in May 2005 that she was in remission. She has stayed positive throughout all her treatment and has battled through with admirable courage.  Sarah dreamt of visiting Walt Disney World to give her some wonderful memories and to spend quality time with her family.  “You have certainly made Sarah’s dream come true. Thank you so very much.” Sarah’s mum

Jack aged 12
Jack was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma in October 2005. He has completed his treatment, but attends the hospital every 3 months for a check-up.  Jack dreamt of meeting the stars of American Wrestling. He was due to attend a match in 2005, but sadly this was cancelled due to treatment. However, he was well enough to go in 2007.
He had a fantastic time and he met John Cena, one of his favourite wrestlers. “It was an amazing time in Jack’s life, I can’t thank you enough.”  Jack’s mum.

What happened to the funds raised from The Wight Challenge 2006?
£15,381.67 was raised from The Wight Challenge 2006, exceeding the target and enabling the following six dreams to come true:

Elle aged 7
Elle suffers from a rare metabolic condition called Phenylketonuria (PKU), a genetic disorder where the body is unable to utilize the essential amino acid, phenylalanine (Phe). Too much Phe is toxic to the brain and high Phe levels over an extended period of time can lead to vomiting, irritability, eczema, increased muscle tone, increased muscle reflex activity, seizures, and severe mental retardation.  Elle’s dream was to have a garden make-over with lots of toys with her to play with, such as swings, a slide and a playhouse.

Jennifer aged 8
Jennifer has cerebal palsy and her dream was for a new Symmetrikit chair, a supportive, most adaptable "Tilt in Space" home chair. It arrived just before Christmas and made an enormous difference to her life at home.

Ross aged 9
Ross was diagnosed with Leukaemia in July 2003 and has another two years of treatment. He has also recently been diagnosed with diabetes as a result of the medication he takes to treat his Leukaemia.  Ross dreamt of swimming with dolphins and his dream came true in late 2006.

Oliver aged 11
Oliver suffers from cerebral palsy, resulting in severe weakness and tightness of his lower limbs. Oliver’s dream was to have a trike, as he spends most of his time in a wheelchair. Thanks to the trike, Oliver is now a happy and independent young man.

Sam aged 15
Sam has a chromosome disorder which causes abnormal neurological development. He is wheelchair bound and has reduced communication skills. Sam dreamt of visiting Silverstone to watch Formula 1 and to meet top racer, Jenson Button. His dream came true in July 2007.

Vanessa aged 16
Vanessa was diagnosed with Blackfan Diamond Anaemia at just 6 weeks old. This is a blood condition caused by a failure within the bone marrow, so she needs blood transfusions every 3 weeks. Vanessa dreamt of being able to take her pony ‘Star’ to local shows and trials. To do this she needed a horse trailer. Vanessa now has her horse trailer, and when she received it she cried her heart out.

What happened to the funds raised from The Wight Challenge 2005?
£5,709 was raised from The Wight Challenge 2005 and was turned into two dreams.

Timmy aged 17
Timmy suffers from acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, cancer of the white blood cells.  Timmy’s dream was to receive a plasma television, simply for the benefit of giving him a little pleasure after undergoing aggressive chemotherapy.  Thanks to the funds raised from the Isle of Wight Challenge, Timmy’s dream was realised late in December 2005,  just in time for Christmas.  Timmy’s letter to Dreams Come True says it all, “I know that we have never met but I want you and everyone at Dreams Come True to know just how grateful I am.  I have been through rather a lot this year alone and for something good to happen is just what I needed. Thank you once again for this wonderful gift and I wish you knew just happy this has made me.”

Carly aged 2½
Carly suffers from spinal muscular atrophy, which has currently received a great deal of attention in the press. Spinal muscular atrophy is a genetic neuromuscular condition that leads to almost total paralysis.  It is untreatable, incurable and fatal.  The body suffers terribly, but the mind remains completely unaffected.  For her dream, little Carly had a hydrotherapy bath installed in her home.  The bath allows her to have the sensation of her limbs moving in warm water and can help temporarily improve respiration.  Carly’s mum says that her daughter has greatly enjoyed splashing around in her new “pool” and it has brought a smile to all of their faces.

What happened to the funds raised from The Wight Challenge 2004?
£671 was raised from The Wight Challenge 2004 and this went to make a dream come true for a boy called Bradley.

Bradley aged 11
First diagnosed with a brain tumour at the age of ten, Bradley underwent intensive chemotherapy treatment. The first tumour caused a lot of damage and as a result, Bradley is partially visually impaired and has problems controlling body temperature, thirst, appetite and emotions. The tumour then returned and he had to undergo further treatment in July 2003, which to date appears to be successful.

Bradley’s Dream was to have a ride in a limousine with some friends. As a result of The Wight Challenge 2004, Bradley’s dream came true and he had a very special day out.