The Newquay Event 2009

The Newquay Paddle went ahead as planned on the 3rd September at Newquay Harbour. Despite the weather being hit and miss and the swell being all over the place the conditions came good for the event, even the sun made an appearance from time to time. Over 300 spectators attended the event to watch and support the 90 paddlers. A great time was had by all and over £7000 was raised for at least 11 charities.

Newquay Surf Life Saving Club kicked off the event with Sue Butler organising the kids’ relays. Sue Butler said, “This has been a great event and a fun way to remember Joe who I was lucky enough to have known”.

Anton Roberts from Soundworx donated his time and the P.A. He guided everyone through the events whilst keeping the music flowing throughout the event.

Next up was the first 1km paddle with 13 paddlers from Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) all competing against each other whilst raising money for SAS. Rachel Barclay, one of SAS’s fundraisers said, “SAS is stoked to be a part of The Joe Way Paddle for Life 2009. We raised some vital funds for our clean water campaign.”

Two more heats of the 1km paddle took place with paddlers starting at the harbour mouth and paddling out to a buoy under the watchful eye of RNLI and Lusty Glaze lifeguards who all donated their time and expertise in support of the event.

Lottie Stokes, who was paddling with her family, came in first for the girls. She has helped the Way family with many other events over the last 12 months and it was great to see her leading the pack. Champion surfer Alan Stokes, who signed one of the raffle surfboards, is away competing so was not able to attend.

The fancy dress adult’s paddle then took place in the harbour. Matt Way was dressed as ELVIS and had a two minute lesson on a stand up paddle board from Adam, which seemed to go in one ear and out the other as he struggled to stay upright to the delight of the crowds.
After much thought Matt Way, Joe’s dad, decided to Paddle for nine of the nominated charity’s and has created Just Giving pages for each one which can be found on Joe’s Paddle for Life website.

The charity’s are The Precious Lives Appeal, for which Joe’s Story has already raised £53,000.00 in 15 months, the Ronald MacDonald House in Bristol where the Way's lived whilst Joe was in Bristol Children’s Hospital in 2007, Children on the Edge of which Joe’s grandparents are trustees, Cornwall Blind Association as Joe was registered blind, The Handstand Appeal as Joe had meningitis at a week old and the story is so moving, the Cystic Fibrosis Trust as media designer and family friend Scott Dickinson lost his sister at the age of 9 to this condition, The Fire Fighters Charity as the Way's flat on Hendra burnt down in 2003 and the action taken by the fire crew saved some precious photos, Cornwall Hospice Care and Shelter Box as they are such good Cornish charity’s.

5 PADI divers also went out to do the 1km but struggled in the bumper conditions and poor visibility. Despite these horrendous conditions they cracked on and got back to the harbour safely raising money for the AWARE Project.

In between the races several gigs went out in support of the paddle which added to the excitement.

The last event was the Joe Way Memorial Cup for the RNLI beach lifeguards who gave the paddle concept to Joe’s web team and family.

The lifeguards where split into in teams, each representing the beach they watch over. As the rally race started the battle was fierce, each lifeguard paddled 1km at speed whilst keeping a hat on they then changed over passing the board and hat to the next team mate.

The winning team where North Fistral which included Chris Zinnon who organised the original paddle last year. In second place where the supervisors which included Paul Benney who has been advising Matt on the set up of this years paddle. In third place came Watergate Bay and forth place went to Mawgan Porth. Other beaches where represented and the girls also had their own team.

Chris Zinnon said, “It’s great to be part of something that’s raising money for so many charities”.

The prize giving was held at the Newquay Rowing Club, who have been a great support to Team Joe along with so many other local people and businesses without whom this paddle event would not have taken place.

The Relentless surfboard, which raised £300 for Cornwall Hospice, was won by Michelle Haines. The Skindog concept board and signed script from The BILL raised over £1000 for the Precise Lives appeal and was won by Wendy Taylor.

Dave from South Fistral Surf Hire made and donated a fantastic carving of the paddle logo which was auctioned off for £500. A big thanks to Nick Bryant from Fistral and Tolcarne Surf Hire who dug deep for this one off original work of art.

Tate Brookes, one of the young SLSC members, won the prize for the most money raised by an individual within the club. He raised a staggering £140 pounds and went home with a goodie bag with an iPod shuffle.

AMG Record, who have supported several Joe Way fundraisers, provided the band EDEN and singer CHARLIE, who entertained the crowed in the Rowing Club after the paddles had finished.

Phil Trebilcock from the Rowing Club then did a quick auction and handed over £250 to the event. Matt offered a round of thanks to all those behind the scenes helpers and paddlers, “The memorial paddle last year was one of the events we wanted to keep going as it is very close to our hearts. Joe has inspired so many people and everyone paddling for him today has inspired us as a family.”

Matt continued, “Our aim is to raise awareness of Joe’s story and inspire people to raise money for their chosen charity, to promote the paddle as a community event for people of all abilities and within five years to have held 50 paddles and raised £50,000 for various charities”

The Newquay event has raised an estimated £7000.00 for at least 11 charities, next years date will be announced soon.

The event was helped along by the big dog Douglas whose owner Fran Carter walked through Newquay collecting money before joining the paddle. A great big thank you for their help and support to the people of the Cornwall Blind Association, who manned thier marquee duing the event, Cornwall Hospice, CLIC, Derek the harbour master, Mark from Wavecrest Scuba, RNLI, Newquay SLSC, Dean woods, Anton Roberts, Scott Dickinson, IT-OK, P&J print, Hendra Holiday Park, Skindog Surfboards and many more sponsors.

To see the rest of the photos from the Newquay 2009 event please check out our gallery album here.