TIKKA FAMILY AND FRIENDS SET SAIL ON A HIGH AS THEY SMASH £10K TARGET

Nine months of Tikka’s Travels planning and preparation end with Gosport launch

Chief Petty Officer, Steve Pointon has finally started his epic voyage around the UK for Action for Children with his wife, Karen, son Harry and friend and fellow Cheddar resident Liz Brigstocke joining him on the first leg to Lowestoft.

They left Gosport on a high after they learned they had sailed past their target of £10,000, determined to raise even more money and awareness for the leading UK charity over the next 12 weeks.

Steve (50) from Cheddar said: “It’s been a fantastic nine months fundraising and preparing for the voyage.  The community has been right behind us all the way and I’ve had brilliant support from my friends and family as well as Jeanne Socrates, David Hempleman-Adams, Michael Eavis and Neil Morrissey.  I’m delighted we’re on our way and to beat our target and raise over £10,500 before setting sail is fantastic.

“At the centre of everything we are doing are the children and young people who have had difficult starts in life – like our adopted son, Harry.   We would like to see all children in our country have a better chance at life, which is why we chose Action for Children.  It’s a national charity passionate about helping disadvantaged children and young people and we hope to raise even more money and, critically, raise awareness of the great work they do.”

Tikka’s Travels has inspired a range of other challenges to coincide with Tikka’s journey around the UK.  A 24-hour Edinburgh to Stoke bike ride by Steve’s brother Anthony and friends for Tikka’s Cycling Challenge raised nearly £3,000 in May, and extreme cyclist and friend, Martin Torbett also from Cheddar, has begun riding 4,600 miles during the voyage and meeting Steve at various ports of call. Martin’s partner, Naomi, will be donning an Action for Children top and running 10K every day over the three months that they are away.

There is also a ‘Tikka’s Walking & Climbing Challenge’ involving members of RNAS Yeovilton walking and climbing in Scotland on the Cape Wrath Trail, a distance equivalent to climbing Mount Everest.

For more information, search ‘Tikka’s Travels’ on Facebook

To donate, visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com and search ‘Tikka’s Travels’, or text to donate with TIKK49 [AMOUNT DONATING] to 70070