Sailing School pledges to help Shelterbox

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From the West Briton 14th October 2009 By Philippa Spackman

Sailing School Pledges to Help Shelterbox - West Briton 

THE owners of a Cornish sailing school were so moved by the ShelterBox charity's appeal for donations to help the emergency in South East Asia that they plan to give £100 to the charity for every sailing course booked in October and November.

Debbie and Adam Purser, who run Classic Sailing on the Roseland peninsula, near Truro, decided to take action after reading in the West Briton about difficulties the Helston charity faces in responding to six natural disasters in nearly as many weeks.

Mrs Purser said: "Classic Sailing will donate £100 to ShelterBox for every booking taken from West Briton readers for any of our Royal Yachting Association (RYA) sailing courses through October and November.

"We have always been drawn to what ShelterBox does.

"There are many parallels between living on a boat and living in a tent and once you have spent hours completely out in the elements at sea, everyone on board really appreciates the concept of shelter."

The company's RYA sailing courses for competent crew and day skippers take place on the pilot cutter Eve of St Mawes.

The company can also help people who are aged over 16 and in employment or self-employment to access grants of up to £120 through the Cornwall Marine Network.

Mr Purser said: "The work of ShelterBox is extremely important and want to do what we can to help.

"Even though on the Eve of St Mawes we might be enjoying a feast of fresh Cornish seafood and a glass of wine, living communally on a boat reminds people how important shelter, food and water are.

"We have a deck over our heads, sleeping bags, a stove, fuel and water tanks, but our guest crew have the imagination to appreciate how appalling it would be to try to survive outdoors without a tent and the vital equipment that ShelterBox supplies to disaster areas.

"I wish we could help in a more direct way, but by giving £100 for every course booked we hope to raise a few hundred pounds for the appeal and if we put our thinking hats on with our sailing guests on board, we might even come up with a few more ideas to help the charity."

To find out more or book a place contact Debbie or Adam Purser on 01872 580022.