Swimming the Solent for Samaritans
Date: Friday 19th June 2009
Contact: Claire
Duncan
Phone: +44 (0)20 8394 8345
Email: Out of hours press phone: +44
(0)7943 809162
Local fundraising initiative set to raise £50,000 for
charity
Anna Wardley, 33, from Gosport, Hampshire
will brave the waters of the Solent this Saturday, 20th
June, when she swims a mile from Southsea Beach to Spitbank Fort in
aid of Samaritans, Toe in the Water, and Sail Africa.
Anna will set off from Southsea Beach at
the point adjacent to South Parade Pier at 7.30pm and will be
greeted by guests attending her black-tie fundraising event as she
completes her swim at Spitbank Fort.
Following the swim, an auction will take
place at the black-tie event where people can bid on a range of
exciting lots including; a day’s sailing for 12 on a luxury 50ft
yacht, a football signed by the 1966 England World Cup Football
team, and a meal for four cooked in your own home by renowned chef
Andrew Bellchambers. All proceeds from the auction will go to
Anna’s selected charity beneficiaries.
Anna Wardley said: “I am swimming in memory
of my dad who took his own life when I was nine years old. Dad
phoned Samaritans for emotional support when he was experiencing
severe depression. I have experienced depression myself which has
made me appreciate how vital it is to have non-judgemental,
confidential support. If local people can support me by cheering me
off from Southsea Beach or attending my black-tie fundraiser it
will really help my fundraising get off to a promising start.”
Claire Duncan from Samaritans said: “Anna’s
Solent swim is an exciting way to launch her year-long fundraising
challenge, Samaritans is extremely grateful for funds raised which
will allow us to continue to deliver our 24-hour support
service.”
Anna’s swim will mark the
launch of the ‘Turning the Tide’ campaign, which will see her
complete a number of different swimming challenges over the next
year including participating in the Finnish Ice swimming
championships, a solo swim of the Channel, and a 21-mile Double
Windermere race. Anna is hoping to raise a total of £50,000 for her
selected charities.
More information is
available by visiting www.annawardley.com
-ends-
Notes to editors
Tickets
£27.50 per person – over 18’s only
Tickets are available by calling 07813 848285
or emailing info@annawardley.com
Dress code: Black tie or swimwear
Samaritans
It is the aim of Samaritans
to make emotional health a mainstream issue. Samaritans'
vision is for a society where fewer people die by suicide because
people are able to share feelings of emotional distress openly
without fear of being judged. Samaritans believes that
offering people the opportunity to be listened to in confidence,
and accepted without prejudice, can alleviate despair and suicidal
feelings.
Samaritans is a registered charity, founded in
1953, which offers 24-hour confidential emotional support to anyone
in emotional distress. The service is offered by 16,534
trained volunteers and is entirely dependent on voluntary
support. Across the UK, you can call Samaritans on 08457 90
90 90 (1850 60 90 90 in the Republic of Ireland) email jo@samaritans.org, write to
Samaritans at Chris, PO Box 9090, Stirling, FK8 2SA, or if you are
deaf or hard of hearing use the single national minicom number
08457 90 91 92. Log on to www.samaritans.org for more information.
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