Dungeness, next stop Boulogne, in aid of Elsie-Rose...

Elsie-Rose

This morning, about 05.15, Mark and Jason posing inside the Dolphin Inn, Rock-a-Nore Road, before leaving to undertake their Kayak Marathon in aid of the Elsie-Rose & Friends Foundation: see previous blog for more information.

We drove to Dungeness to meet them before they cross the Channel, Mark and Jason had come from Rye Harbour in the Support Boat (crew: Will and Keith); about 06.45.

Coming to their adoring public

Waving to their adoring public 

Off they go! 

Next Stop Boulogne; departed 06.55

By now they should be in the middle of the Channel, good luck to them!

Fund-raising/collecting pledges for this venture will carry on for the next couple of weeks, if you would like to contribute, go to Crowdfunding, or visit the Dolphin Inn and drop spare cash into the collection box please, many thanks!

The adoring public included Maureen, Louise, David, Maz, a fisherman we were standing by on the beach, and me 😉

Raising Money for Elsie-Rose and SMA Type 1

The landlord of the Dolphin Inn, Mark Little, and 3 other hardy volunteers, will be taking on the challenge of kayaking across the English Channel from Dungeness to Boulogne in August to support a local lass, 4 year-old Elsie-Rose and SMA Type 1. 

Elsie-Rose was diagnosed with Type I SMA (Spinal Muscular Atrophy) in September 2014, a condition that causes severe muscle weakness, and which can result in problems moving, eating, breathing and swallowing. Unfortunately, without intervention, most children with Type I SMA die within the first 2 years of life. However, the resilient Elsie-Rose strives to carry on just like any other 4 year old! 

The Elsie-Rose & Friends Foundation was set up to provide help and financial support for families with disabled, sick, and terminally ill children and, after meeting Elsie-Rose and her family, Mark and friends decided to kayak across the English Channel with the aim of raising money for Elsie-Rose and the Foundation.

Consequently, they are seeking donations to their cause via Crowdfunding towards equipment Elsie-Rose may need in the future, and to give the Foundation funds it needs to support other families in need. Indeed, £350 has already been donated, including £250 from a kind anonymous donor! There will also be pots for donations and sponsor forms in the Dolphin Inn at 11-12 Rock-a-Nore Road, Hastings TN34 3DW. 

If you wish to know more about Elsie-Rose, the Foundation and their campaign, you can go to their facebook page or twitter page. If you would like more details about SMA Type 1, go to the Spinal Muscular Atrophy website.

To help support this brave young lass and others, a donation either via Crowdfunding or by visiting the Dolphin Inn and making a pledge to support the team's kayaking challenge, or to add to the collection pots, would be gratefully received, many thanks.