A weekend on Wightlink ferry crossings from Fishbourne to Portsmouth and Yarmouth to Lymington offered a great start to collecting for this year’s Connaught Trust Round Island Cadet Relay last month.
Cadets from Air, Army, Sea and Combined Cadet Forces worked in shifts, crossing the Solent over the weekend of the 27th-28th April.
Collecting from passengers – and completing the Pound Paw Print Path with a sticker for every pound put on a map of the Islands coast line -the cadets raised a massive £4678.08 for Hounds for Heroes and the Royal British Legion.
Not only a great start to the fund raising, but also a great opportunity for unit cadets and staff to meet up, share experiences and ideas.
Morrison’s Lake store offered a back pack, collecting another £1,420.36 from customers along with many positive comments for the cadets’ appearance and politeness. Showing the Islands community what a positive opportunity being part of a Military Uniformed youth organisation is.
The sun shine filled weekend gave perfect conditions to the main event. The Connaught Trust sponsored Round Island Cadet Relay. Each cadet unit took part in walking a timed section of the Islands coast. Collecting geo cache boxes en route, to solve at the end and answer 5 questions at the end.
This years winners were Cowes College CCF, winning £300.00 to benefit the cadets. 1024sqn Isle of Wight Air Training Corps were second and TS Royal George Sea Cadets Corps third. The event in total raised over £6500.00, giving £5,000 to name a puppy for Hounds for Heroes and a donation to the Islands Royal British Legion.
A mass parade of cadets, staff, officers both volunteer and regular service personnel marched from Gurnard bringing an impressive end to the fundraising events. Under the instruction of Lt (SCC) Tim Collins RNR the cadet parade lead by the Isle of Wight Sea Cadet Band, to salute Squadron Leader Peter Westley, Lt Cdr Karen Kristiansen Central District Staff Officer SCC, Major Colin Plummer (Retired) Trustee of the Connaught Trust and Cowes Town Mayor David Walters. Supported by Flying Officer Paul Carter RAF VR (T) Flight Lieutenant Tony Gear RAF (Retired) and Margaret Elcome TS Royal George.
With numerous roles with in all the fund raising activities being taken on by staff and officers with in all the Islands’ Military Cadet organisations gave a true Tri Service event feel to the fund raising. This was the hope when the relay was initially set up in 2010 by Squadron leader Liz Mead. A legacy that it is hoped will continue in the following three years that remain of the Connaught Trust Sponsored Round Island Cadet Relay.
