ESCAPE FROM ALCATRAZ

On Saturday 23rd August 2008, Aaron and Matt will be attemtping our most daring and indeed dumbest charity event yet. We are going to attempt to swim from Alcatraz (AKA ‘The Rock’) and through the frigid and shark infested waters of San Francisco Bay to the mainland.

Should we survive the first part of the challenge with all our limbs intact, we are then going to do a seven mile run across the Golden Gate Bridge to ensure our Escape from Alcatraz is a complete success – these blood hounds and sadistic wardens can really be a pain to fugitives on the run!

In its 29 years as an infamous maximum-security prison, no one escaped alive from the menacing shores of Alcatraz, although to this day there are five prisoners “missing, presumed drowned”. The waters rarely reach a temperature above 58 degrees, making hypothermia a real possibility, while unforgiving currents meant that only the very fittest could survive.

We have had six months to train for the Alcatraz Challenge Aquathon, which for two of the most unfit people in Torquay, really wasn't that long. The event is a race, although to be quite honest, we will just be happy to finish it in one piece. Our plan is to swim in the middle of everyone else and hope the sharks take out those on the edges!

We are doing the swim and run to raise money for Rowcroft Hospice, which is where we need your help. We need people to sponsor us – after all, we are literally risking life and limb to pull off this stunt. What’s more, 100% OF THE SPONSORSHIP MONEY WILL BE DONATED DIRECTLY TO ROWCROFT. We strongly feel that sponsorship money should not be used to finance trip abroad, but always go directly to the charity concerned. 

We will also be organising a series of events and putting special sponsorship tins in several venues in and around the bay, so please support in any way you can…it’ll make the prosthetic limbs worthwhile!

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor us: Rowcroft Hospice will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.

So please sponsor us now and leave a message of support!

Huge thanks

Matt & Aaron xxx