Page 40 - link magazine

40 swindonlink.com • October 2009
Zip sliders needed Mad Hatter’s daughter sails away round the world

On Sunday 25 October Prospect Della Parsons, daughter of Haydon Wick-based milliner Sheila Parsons ‘The Mad Hatter,’ set off on 13 Sep-
Hospice will stage Swindon’s very tember from Hull on the Clipper Round the World Yacht race to raise money for three different charities.
first Zip Slide which will carry She used to live in Haydon The final leg from Ja-
harnessed riders across the County Wick before moving to Hull maica calls at New York,
Ground at high speed. where she is production editor Cape Breton, Cork and
No experience is necessary but
you are asked to raise £100. All for BBC East Yorkshire & Lin- Rotterdam, before re-
colnshire and knew little about
turning to race-host port
equipment /instruction on the day sailing until October 2008. She’s Hull on 17 July 2010.
is provided. For details call 815142, been in training ever since and Della said, “being
or mail: hayleymillin@prospect- hopes to turn every mile sailed hugely competitive, I
hospice.net
into cash. “I’m going to be sail- couldn’t just sign up to
Long distance cyclist ing 35,000 nautical miles and do one leg of the race, I
want to raise a pound for every
wanted to be part of the
Stuart Day from Taw Hill is no one,” she said. winning team for the
stranger to charity bike rides. Her home for the seven-leg whole trip.”
Last year he was amongst a team trip is the brightly coloured Della, who is being
that raised £8,000 for Marie Curie Hull & Humber, affectionately sponsored by medical
Cancer Care and Prospect Hospice. known by its 18 strong crew supplies company Smith
This summer he and 22 colleagues as BOB, the ‘big orange boat.’ & Nephew, is sailing on
involved in the railway industry Over the next ten months behalf of DebRA, the
rode 300 miles from London to it will cross the Atlantic three charity supporting indi-
Amsterdam in aid of the Round times, as well as navigate the viduals suffering from
Table Childrens Wish appeal. Southern Ocean, Indian Ocean, Epidermylosis Bullosa, a
Stuart raised £536 towards the South China Sea, Pacific Ocean condition where the skin
total which is nearing £8,000. and the Panama Canal. wounds very easily.
Sheila bidding Della farewell. BOB on the high seas below
She is also raising
money for World Land Trust and
the Bobby Moore Cancer Fund.
Sheila is very proud of her
daughter, and is considering a trip
to New York next year to cheer BOB
into the harbour. “I only hope that
Della won’t be the first to volunteer
to climb to the top of the mast in
rough seas.”
• See more pictures at www.swin-
donlink.com

21-52 October 09.indd 40 18/9/09 12:29:24