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MENDIP TIMES
Riding for Mike and the RNLI
PHiL Bindon is planning a 200-mile cycle ride from Westonsuper-mare to Padstow, visiting lifeboat stations on the way, to raise funds for the RnLi. it’s in memory of his son, mike, aged 23, who was swept away by a freak wave while fishing off the Cornish coast on January 22nd, 2014. Phil, from Bleadon, is hoping to raise £10,000. He said: “The RnLi and air support were on the scene within 15 minutes. They never found him and my life changed that day, forever. But back to 2020, i had a lightbulb moment. i wanted to raise awareness again and help the RnLi.” He took up cycling while furloughed from work and raised £700 for a cancer charity. He will start his Ride your Bike for mike from Weston on Saturday, may 8th at 10am. Some of his colleagues from Edenstone Homes, where he works as a project manager, will join him on the first leg to minehead. They include Chris Edge, Steve Barley and mike Huddlestone. others joining him for the challenge include matt groves, Liz Porter, Richard goddard-Jones, Alan Jackson and Alex Walker. After minehead the ride takes in ilfracombe, Port isaac and Padstow.
Tall ships adventure thanks to STAR
A TEEnAgE girl from the mendip area has been given the chance to sail on a tall ship thanks to the Somerset-based young people’s charity STAR. Anna (not her real name) will become part of a Tall Ships Youth Trust crew for her Duke of Edinburgh challenge. The main aim of STAR – Somerset Trust for Arts & Recreation – is to raise funding to enable many disadvantaged and vulnerable Somerset children and young people the opportunity to participate in activities and experiences which is often denied to them through poverty and, sometimes, dysfunctional lifestyles. Helen Bown, STAR’s development officer, said: “many of these young people typically have lower self-esteem, fewer social skills, achieve less at school and are at a higher risk of social exclusion and being involved in anti-social behaviour. “STAR’s funding helps to address this and a typical request for help is for a child to attend a social club or arts and drama clubs. Recently we have had requests to help with children’s mental health affected by Covid and we have funded horse therapy sessions and gym memberships. Activities which most young people take for granted but for those less fortunate, activities which remain out of reach.” Anna, 13, is one of ten young people in the county to be helped with their bronze DofE challenges. Helen added: “Covid-19 has affected STAR’s funding considerably and we now have to think of imaginative ways to raise the muchneeded funds to be able to meet all our referrers’ requests at a time when young people are facing extraordinary levels of youth unemployment, they are feeling excluded and mental health issues are on the rise.” One of the Tall Ships Trust fleet
Philip Bindon is fundraising for RNLI – Royal National Lifeboat Institution (justgiving.com)
Supporting the RNLI
THE RnLi is expecting a busy summer, with so many people taking holidays at home, and with fundraising activities hit by the pandemic it has launched a spring appeal after dipping into its reserves to maintain services last year. in 2019, RnLi volunteers saved 374 lives and helped over 38,700 people. The Chew Valley Fundraising Branch is supporting the appeal. it’s also looking at the possibility of an event, possibly partly outdoors, in September and has provisionally booked Ubley Parish Hall for their Curry Lunch on Friday, november 12th. Details: https://rnli.org
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For details about STAR’s work, visit: www.somersetstar.org.uk
