Local Lady all set to get rolling

- Mon 24th Jul 2006

Local Lady all set to get rolling

A Hayling Island Student is all set to get rolling when she jets off to Australia in three weeks time. Beckie Mckinlay, 22, whose family home is Osprey Drive of Hayling Island, has been chosen to be a roadie in support of a world record longboarding attempt down under – when a British long boarder, 26-year-old Dave Cornthwaite, attempts to skate 4000 miles around the southern Australian coastline from Perth to Brisbane.

The record attempt, dubbed BoardFree, is in support of three children's charities, which will benefit from the thousands of pounds the BoardFree team has promised to raise. Dave is taking four roadies, a photographer and a cameraperson along for the ride.

"I feel absolutely honoured and thrilled to have been chosen for this," said Becki,   who graduated from Swansea University with a degree in Geography in 2005, and has since been the President of the Students Union in Swansea.

Becki admits she had never long boarded before being chosen for BoardFree, but can't wait to try out her boarding skills during the trip.

"I will have to practice along Hayling Seafront because there'll be times when Dave will need the company on the road".   Becki's main role in the team is not only to support Dave and drive the support vehicle, but also to be the coordinator for events and Fundraising. "The experience I gained from being the President of a Students Union has put me in good stead for this trip. I was really involved with Student fundraising societies like RAG, and the entertainments department, so these skills are going to be really helpful on the trip".

The Australian journey, which will be break the current world record distance skateboard journey by over 1000 miles, begins in Perth, Western Australia, on 21 August. In the meantime, Cornthwaite, who lives in Swansea in South Wales, has completed another first, a length of Britain skate from John O'Groats to Land's End which he completed on the 2 nd June, 2006.

"BoardFree isn't just about longboarding," explains Cornthwaite, "the project's main aim is to raise awareness and funding for three charities, the work of the Lowe Syndrome Trust, Link Community Development and Sailability is exemplary and they deserve all the support they receive. At the same time, I'm keen to encourage young people to leave their televisions inside and take up sports. I hope that BoardFree can inspire people to adopt a 'no limits' attitude to sport, and life in general. Even though I've been taking part in this sport for less than a year, I am completely confident that this year's journeys will be successful and that the general public in the UK and Australia will support our cause."

Additional:

1. BoardFree official website can be found at www.boardfree.co.uk, and donations to the supported charities can be made online at www.justgiving.com/boardfree.

2. The BoardFree team is based in Swansea, South Wales.

3. People can sponsor Becki individually through www.boardfree.co.uk

4. Dave completed a warm-up journey from John O'Groats to Land's End in May. More details about BoardFree UK are on the web site.

5. A six-person strong team will be supporting BoardFree in 2006, ensuring that Dave doesn't roll quietly through the UK and Australia.

Kate Brakenborough will handle Media and PR, 24, who has experience in media and working with the charities.

Becki Mckinlay, 22, is in charge of fundraising and tin shaking along the route, as well as organising events,  

Dan Loo, 23, will take care of the kit and vehicles, making sure that Dave's wheels never stick and that support vehicle problems don't hold up the record attempt.

Bev Blackburn, 22, is there to help with food and accommodation, and work with Dave to look after his dietary requirements and needs.

Holly Allen, 20, is a professional photographer and will be keeping a photo diary of the trip, as well as updating the website with pictures of the journey.

Simon Thorpe, 21, is filming a documentary of the record attempt and will post regular films of the team's progress on the BoardFree website. He will be helped by Badger boy productions, a production company who are going to help to produce the documentary for TV/ retail

6. Photographs available on request. Contact Dave Cornthwaite or Becki Mckinlay

7. BoardFree is currently seeking commercial sponsors to assist with the costs of the year's journeys. Full information can be found on www.boardfree.co.uk , and any enquiries should be directed to dave@boardfree.co.uk

Contact: Becki Mckinlay

Email: becki@boardfree.co.uk

Mobile: 07921315101

LONGBOARDING

Contact: Dave Cornthwaite:

Email: dave@boardfree.co.uk

Mobile: 07727225314

By forum user, Bruce_Bennett