Island Update: October 2024

Tuesday, 8 October 2024 11:02

Your monthly round-up of local news from across the Island...

Your community news, achievements and feel-good stories. Please do continue to send them in to editorial@iwbeacon.com and remember, more local news and information is available on our website www.iwbeacon.com

Ryde Lifeguards Go Electric

An Isle of Wight charity, which runs Ryde’s community pool and promotes safety along the coast, has now taken delivery of an electric-powered beach buggy, following a grant from Wightlink.

The ferry company awarded £7,500 to Waterside Community Trust from its Green Innovation Fund towards the cost of the electric all-terrain vehicle (e-ATV). “Our new buggy will transform our operations,” said Trust General Manager Todd Miller. “Our lifeguards will use it to tow our beach wheelchairs, an inshore rescue boat and other equipment, perform patrols and much more in both Ryde and Sandown, while helping us to reduce our carbon emissions and look after the amazing island we live on.”

As well as running Waterside Pool on Ryde seafront, the Trust operates a summer beach lifeguard service and a pioneering drowning-prevention programme. The e-ATV will be used every day in summer to respond to emergencies and transport equipment between the beaches in Ryde and Sandown. Replacing a petrol vehicle, it will reduce carbon emissions and noise pollution on the beaches.

Wear It Pink

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month which means the return of wear it pink – Breast Cancer Now’s biggest and brightest fundraising event on Friday 18 October.

Michelle Blackburn understands the impact breast cancer can have. Her older sister, Tracey, died of breast cancer in 2016, then Michelle received her own diagnosis in October 2020. “Telling my younger sister Nikki was harder than I ever imagined,” she said. “But when Nikki revealed months later that she’d also been diagnosed with breast cancer, I couldn’t believe it. Three sisters in one family!”

Although the sisters did not have the BRCA gene, the hospital said it probably was genetic but more research was needed. “This is why I’m calling on everyone to wear pink and raise money this October to help fund a life-saving research breakthrough that could help families like mine,” said Michelle.

Sign up at: www.wearitpink.org

Children’s Ward Garden

With the help of the IW NHS Youth Forum, Isle of Wight Rotary and Artwork, the Children’s Ward Garden at St Mary’s Hospital has been completely renovated and is now a vibrant outdoor space where patients and their families enjoy spending time. The garden was originally refurbished in 2009 in memory of James Sparks, a patient who sadly died on the ward.

Thanks to this support the garden now has beautiful nature inspired artwork on the walls, planting in moveable planters, comfortable seating, a willow wigwam, bird boxes and a growing wall, including an area that is dedicated to James’ memory with a QR code to scan that leads visitors to his story.

Wing Walking Nurses

Brave fundraisers have touched the sky; by taking part in the Isle of Wight’s first ever wing walk to raise vital cash for Mountbatten Isle of Wight.

Some of Mountbatten Isle of Wight’s nursing team were among those to take to the skies. Consultant nurse, Jackie Whiller said: “It was absolutely amazing — the best thing I’ve ever done.” Many wing walkers were taking on the challenge in memory of a loved one. Among them was Kim, who called it “An experience I will never forget!”

£82,000 has already been raised, with more donations coming in. Charlotte Hornblow from Mountbatten said, “It will help continue to fund our 24/7 expert care, delivered in Islanders’ homes and in our hospice, including bereavement support, rehabilitation and helping people come to terms with death and dying.”

Paddle to Freshwater Bay

Freshwater Bay in West Wight has come in second place as one of the best places to go wild swimming and paddleboarding in the UK. Go Outdoors looked at the water quality, average sunshine hours, popularity, and wind speed, and Freshwater Bay came out with a score of 8.99 out of 10.

It is one of the most charming beaches on the Isle of Wight, surrounded by tall white cliffs and clear waters – an excellent spot for paddleboarding. Freshwater Bay offers scenic beauty and favourable weather conditions, with sea temperatures reaching as high as 20.9°C in August and an average of 1,699 sunshine hours a year.

Get Your Boots On

The multi-award winning Autumn Isle of Wight Walking Festival takes place between 5-13 October, and here are some of the highlights of the 100 walks available.

Richard Quigley will be leading a 3-mile stroll along the coastal path from Cowes to Gurnard and back with his three dogs, with the opportunity to get to know the new MP with a walk and talk.

The newly re-opened Appley Tower, the 19th Century folly perched just above the beach at Ryde, is the focus of a gentle 1.5 mile circular walk including history and an exhibition.

Celebrating ‘Goatober’, keen walkers are invited to join the Chair of the Isle of Wight Ramblers David Yates for an 18-mile circular route on the south side of the Island. Those who complete the journey will be rewarded with a tour of Kingston Smallholding Goat Farm.

walking@visitwight.org

Island Update: October 2024

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