Ocean Youth Trust volunteers set for Northern Rock Cyclone

Grace Metcalfe aboard OYT North yacht, James Cook © Ocean Youth Trust

An intrepid crew of North East charity workers are setting the wheels in motion on a gruelling fundraising challenge.

Workers and volunteers from Ocean Youth Trust (OYT) North are getting back in the saddle as training steps up a gear for the Northern Rock Cyclone on 25th June.

Skipper of the OYT North yacht, Grace Metcalfe, is taking on the 63-mile cycling challenge for the second year in a row, along with Craig Leslie, former first mate and regular volunteer Georgie Hind.

They hope to raise upwards of £800 for the charity through donations and fundraising site www.justgiving.com/Grace-Metcalfe - over £100 more than their previous year’s total. All the money raised will go towards providing youth development training to young people in the north of England who may otherwise be unable to access it.

The youth training programmes developed by OYT North teach young people about the values of teamwork and personal responsibility, and have been shown to have long-term positive affects for youngsters from a wide variety of backgrounds.

Skipper Grace said: “The race is a big challenge and last year it took us two hours 24 minutes to complete, but we’re pushing ourselves with training this year so that we can beat that time, as well as raise a lot more money for OYT North.

“The only worry is that a lot of my time up until the race will be spent at sea, so I’m going to have to practice by riding my boat round the deck!

“I started off my sailing career as a young person aboard James Cook, and it was through the charity’s Young Leadership Scheme that I built up my skills and confidence enough to take a position firstly as Mate, then as Skipper.

“I don’t know what I would be doing now if I hadn’t had the support of OYT North and I know that there are many young people whose lives have also been influenced by the organisation. The staff and volunteers all feel it’s important to continue providing support for young people in the north, so it’s great to being doing this and giving something back.”

Steve Lennon, General Manager at OYT North, said: “In this era of the Big Society the emphasis is moving away from government action towards charitable endeavor not least in the provision of support for young people. Young people are the future of our society and our economy and investment in them is investment in the future.

“Our staff and volunteers always move me with their enthusiasm to get involved with fundraising and help us out. It’s a real credit to their belief in OYT North that these three are taking on the Northern Rock Cyclone for the second time in a row and setting themselves even greater challenges.

“If just 200 people put in £4, they’ll have hit their target and we will have the funds needed to send two deserving young people on a weekend of sail training to improve their prospects and give them the tools they need to build a better future.

“I wish Grace, Craig and Georgie the best of luck and will be encouraging everyone I can to donate whatever they can to an excellent cause.”

If you would like to make a donation please call the OYT North office on 0191 257 1212 or visit www.justgiving.com/Grace-Metcalfe

OYT North specialises in the personal and social development of young people through the unique medium of Adventure under Sail. It offers safe but exhilarating residential experiences to young people, helping them to discover more about the world and themselves while learning new skills.

The Northern Rock Cyclone has been at forefront of the resurgence of cycling’s popularity in the North East and is now firmly established as one of the biggest and most prestigious sporting events in the UK.