Channel Rotary Folkestone

Channel Rotary Charity Cycle Challenge 2024
A short video of the Channel Rotary annual Charity Cycle Challenge on the beautiful Romney Marsh in aid of South Kent Mind.
With distances of 30, 50 and 80 miles there was plenty of choice for the fun cyclists, teams, clubs and serious solo cyclists.
https://youtu.be/OpMcGS9QMN8
Video produced by Liam Tonolini for Channel Rotary.

Folkestone Channel Rotary Club Presentation to South Kent Mind

President Mike Simmonds was delighted to present a cheque for £2000 to the Chief Executive of South Kent Mind, Sheridan Hammond.
The money was raised through the successful and well-loved Folkestone Channel Cycle Challenge held in July. The funds will enable SK Mind to continue their essential work.
The Cycle Challenge has been held annually for the last 15 years and has raised over £100,000 in that time for local charities.
Sheridan thanked Mike and the members of Channel Rotary :
“ We are incredibly grateful to the Channel Rotary Club () for their generous donation of £2000 raised through their Charity Cycle Challenge in Romney Marsh on Sunday 7 July 2024!

With this donation we can continue our hard work to support those facing mental health challenges in our community.”

FOLKESTONE INNER WHEEL

CHANNEL ROTARY GIVES HEADWAY KENT £4000

Following a very successful golf day Folkestone Channel Rotary were pleased to present Hayley Cook, Head of Operations at Headway with a cheque for £4100. The golf day has been run by Channel Rotary for some 30 years and this year was one of the most successful.
Mike Simmonds President of Channel Rotary “ Hayley has been to our club and explained how important Headway is and we are very pleased to make this donation to an excellent Kent charity specialising in helping people with brain injuries.”
Headway supports survivors and their families by offering a safe community to relearn life skills post the injury. This is done using community hubs, one to one and online. They take referrals from both the East Kent Hospital Trust and Social Care. This summer they launched an additional service of a “living with brain injury workshop” aimed at new sufferers.
Hayley Cook “Its an invaluable service that is in the main kept going with donations and fundraising so this money will be really helpful in allowing us to continue to support good work so needed by our clients in the local community”

ROTARY ALPACA TREAT FOR YOUNG CARERS

A group of Young Carers were treated to a day out by the four local Rotary clubs (Folkestone, Channel, Hythe and Romney Marsh). Together with Tina Culver, Local Young Carer Coordinator, Assistant Molly Woolf and Rotarians from all four clubs they visited Hagueland, Burmarsh, for a splendid Meet and Greet the Alpacas experience followed by lunch.

The Young Carers had great fun hand-feeding both adult and baby Alpacas. There was also an opportunity for them to take photographs of their thrilling experience, excitement clearly showing on their delighted faces.

After lunch they spent another two hours enjoying the pleasures and thrills of the Marsh Maze and Fun-yard, where they excitedly participated in the various activities clearly designed to keep youngsters delightedly excited and happy.

Tina, a member of Imago, the organization engaged by KCC to provide support for children and young people in Folkestone and Hythe District who have special responsibility for family members, thanked Rotary for arranging the outing. She was thrilled at the very positive feedback from the Young Carers, summed up by a couple of them in their comments “This is the best day of my Summer holidays”.

This followed a recent donation by Channel Rotary of £50 Supermarket vouchers presented by Mike Simmonds, club president, to Tina Culver to distribute to those young carer families most in need. Tina, a member of Imago, the organisation engaged by KCC to provide support for local children and young people who have special responsibility for family members. She was most appreciative of the club’s donation and personally distributed the vouchers to very grateful families as can be seen from the comments.

“I have just come home to find an Asda voucher that you popped through my door. I cannot thank you enough for thinking of us and please can you pass on my thanks to the Channel Rotary club for their amazing generosity”

“You have no idea how hard the summer holidays are with the extra costs so we are very grateful to you and the Channel Rotary club for providing this life line.”

⭐ A Massive THANK YOU to Rotary Folkestone for their sponsorship of Hawkinge Summer Fest. ⭐

Huge thanks to our friends at the Channel Rotary Folkestone for their valued support.
Our Kent Young Carers Support Coordinator, Tina, was delighted to receive a donation of supermarket vouchers from the Club President. These will be used to support Young Carer families in the area.

Donations to support our work with Young Carers are very welcome. If you or your family, club, group, school or business would like to help out and make a real difference, please get in touch [email protected] or via our website https://www.imago.community/Support-Us.

CHANNEL ROTARY TRIATHLON - CANCELLED - SUNDAY 15th SEPTEMBER
Due to unforeseen circumstances, we have had to cancel this year’s Channel Triathlon. All entrants will have their entry fee refunded to their bank account.
Contact: [email protected]

ROTARY YOUNG ARTIST NATIONAL WINNER
Every year Great Britain & Ireland National Rotary runs a number of competitions for Young People. The Young Artist competition is run locally by Folkestone Channel Rotary with winners going forward to the district and then onto a national final.

We are pleased to announce that Eleanor Prineas from Folkestone School for Girls has just won the National Prize in the senior age category. Ellie had to beat over a thousand entries and was presented with her trophy and winning vouchers by Mike Simmonds President of Channel Rotary.

Ellie was accompanied by her parents Karen and Mark to an enjoyable meal with Channel Rotarians.

Ellie commented on her painting “'This piece is an acrylic painting of my youngest sister. I chose to paint her playing alone with Jenga and Dominoes, games from our childhood that require rebuilding after completion. As the youngest sibling, my little sister is playing alone with these toys- and therefore forced to rebuild the blocks by herself.
The harsh lighting and dramatic shadows amplify the tension and frustration that she feels as she is the lonely youngest child, whilst also demonstrating the guilt I feel as the eldest for making her rebuild alone.”

Mike Simmonds from Channel Rotary “ This is just part of the youth competitions run by the four Rotary clubs in Shepway which include Young Chef, Young Writer and Youth speaks. We are delighted with this result, it is always a great honour and joy to have found the National winner, many congratulations to Ellie.”
Folkestone school for girls did really well in the competition with several other pupils getting highly commended for the local heats. Annabel, Ellie’s sister, also won the local intermediate age category.

Photos Show
Ellie receiving her trophy and winning vouchers from Mike Simmonds President Channel Rotary & David Jarvis Chairman of the Shepway Rotary Group Youth Committee. Ellie & her picture.
Also the certificate presentation to Rhianna Scrivens, Anushka Sharp & Annabel Prineas with teacher Sandie Rowland, head teacher Mr Lester and David Jarvis from Channel.

CHANNEL ROTARY MARSH CYCLE CHALLENGE BEATS THE WEATHER

Channel Rotary has been running a cycle challenge from the Star Inn at St Mary in the Marsh for ten years and this year the elements contrived to make it difficult. With high winds and intermittent heavy showers the riders had plenty to contend with.

Undaunted the first riders were away at 7.00am to tackle a choice of three routes – 30, 50 or 80 miles. A fully signposted route with marshals to ensure everything went smoothly.

All this effort was to raise money for South Kent Mind the local mental health charity offering support to anyone who may be struggling with their mental health and wellbeing from Sandwich through to Dungeness.

CHANNEL ROTARY HANDOVER

Channel Rotary handover saw Mike Simmonds take over from Geoff Milsted " as President " at the new Brasserie MS on 26th June. The club were treated to a lovely gourmet meal which gave an excellent start to the Rotary New Year.

Mike a planning consultant has been a Rotarian for many years transferring from Folkestone some ten years ago and is looking forward to leading the club for the next four months after which he will be followed by his co presidents -Peter Godden & then Malcolm Stewart.

For more information about us visit www.channelrotary.org.uk

A sea swim is a good challenge. Channel Tri is not a crowd start. An award winning Tri caringly marshalled to help you on your personal challenge. Is there a better route to than a triathlon? Booking now www.channeltri.com September 15th Folkestone

Just under a week to go until the Channel Charity Cycle Challenge. Book yourself, your team, your family your friends in for a fun day cycling around the Romney Marsh at www.channelrotarybikeride.org.uk
All funds raised will go to South Kent Mind and other local charities.
You can also register on the day, from 7am

CHANNEL ROTARY TRIATHLON - SUNDAY 15th SEPTEMBER
You can also cycle, swim, or run in the Folkestone channel Rotary triathlon on Sunday, the 15th of September at Wear bay Road East Cliff, Folkestone.
Participants can do the full event or a mini version or get a team up to cover all three disciplines. Channel Rotary will help you find a team if you need an additional swimmer!
Gaining the accolade as “regional winner“ of the triathlon England small event of the year In 2023 is a reflection of the beauty of the course and the quality of the event management and facilities
Full details at www.channeltri.com

A PERFECT WAY TO RIDE THE MARSH ON SUNDAY 7th JULY
Whether you are an occasional cyclist or a regular club member, Sunday, the 7th of July offers an enjoyable challenge on the flattest ride in the UK. Starting at the Star Inn in beautiful Saint Mary in the Marsh, choose a 30, 50 or 80 mile circuit and end your day with suitable refreshments and live music in the pub garden.
Registration is open from 7 am, or book now at www.channelrotarybikeride.org.uk
Experience quiet country lanes, Birdsong, and (hopefully) Sunshine – plus you get the health benefits and the knowledge that all proceeds go to South Kent mind and local charities.

Channel Cycle Challenge 2024 Sunday 7th July – Click here for more information

ASDA Foodbank Collection
Channel Rotarians were involved in helping to generate gifts of groceries for the Rainbow Centre foodbank. The three days managed to get another 1000 kgs stock for the Shepway Foodbank.

If you are interested in joining in on any of the Channel Rotary's charity fundraising projects please contact the secretary at https://channelrotary.wordpress.com/contact-us/

The swim at Channel Tri may be done but don't celebrate too soon. There is still the and . Standard . Sprint and ultra-short distances. September 15th overlooking Folkestone Harbour. A of family or friends is a great way to enjoy the event. www.channeltri.com

Don't like Running? Don't like Swimming? Or Cycling? A Relay team is a great way to enter the sport. The Channel Tri is a nice challenge for the individual: Standard, Sprint and ultra-short distances but we also have a team-relay event. Form a team with your friends. www.channeltri.com

The sea is at its warmest in September in Folkestone. The swim starts the on September 15th. Why not form a relay team: friends to take on the other challenges; cycling and runnung for your first Tri. Or take on a great individual challenge. Booking: www.channeltri.com

What a beautiful day for , or . The Channel Tri is on September 15th this year. A great personal challenge or do it as a relay team with friends. Book at: www.channeltri.com And it's all for charity!

Your first triathlon? The Channel Tri is an award winning small event. No crowded swim start. The sea at its warmest. Praised for our marshals and friendly atmosphere. Brilliant scenery along the way from Folkestone's East Cliff. You could even start as a relay team. Or take on the Olympic distance as a personal challenge. A triathlon for everyone. September 15th. www.channeltri.com

The Channel Tri 2024 September 15th. Standard, Sprint and Super-Short distances. Also Relay teams of friends or family. The sea swim is at its warmest. An award willing small event from BTF. www.channeltri.com

The Channel Tri 2024 is an event for all levels of abilities including relay teams. Read all about it on www.channeltri.com

A triathlon for all. From a challenging Olympic distance to a shorter Relay Team event. Channel Tri on September 15th a great fitness goal for the end of the summer. An award winning small event. book now Channel Tri 2024 www.channeltri.com A fabulous venue overlooking Folkestone Harbour

For Channel Tri on September 15th the sea will be at its warmest. A great fitness target for the end of the season whether you are a seasoned triathlete doing the Standard distance or aiming for your first Tri at super-short distance. This award winning small event is for everyone. Form a relay team and join in an amazing sports challenge. Read more and book at www.channeltri.com

The Channel Tri on September 15th is an award willing small event run under British Triathlon rules. A great personal challenge of Sea Swim, Hilly Cycle and a nice coastal run. Booking and all information at www.chammeltri.com