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Twenty-seven-year-old leukaemia survivor Oliver Rofix is all set to begin his fundraising activities in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust at the Suzuki-sponsored Powerboat & RIB Show, Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth, from 11-13 May 2012.
In advance of his new challenge – ‘Jolly Olly’s RIB Quest’, which will commence in May 2013 – Olly is on a mission to visit as many high profile marine events as possible to raise awareness for his cause.
Olly’s 2013 challenge will see the Suffolk-based sailor circumnavigate the entire UK and outer islands in a Rigid Inflatable Boat – a journey which will see him complete 45 individually sponsored legs, travel over 3000 miles and visit some of the most remote parts of the British Isles, all in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust. The 2013 event follows on from Olly’s 2011 journey around the UK in his 18ft sailing boat ‘Jolly Olly’ – an eight-month adventure planned while he was recovering from the life-saving bone marrow transplant that took place just days after his 21st birthday.
Asked why he had chosen the Powerboat & RIB Show to launch the run-up to his 2013 event, Olly explained: “It’s an exciting new show that opens up the marine world to the general public at a fantastic location – it is expected that over 80,000 people will attend this free show, so it will be the perfect platform to tell my story, raise awareness of the incredible work the charity does, whilst fundraising for a great cause. I’m very grateful to show organiser Hugo Montgomery-Swan and his team for sponsoring my space there.”
Show visitors will get a first glimpse of Olly’s new Cabin RIB, sponsored by Ribquest, which will be used throughout his round-UK challenge. However, as Olly is going to have an active input into the interior design of the cabin which will be his home for four months next year, the RIB will not be fully completed until after the weekend’s event. Olly explained: “Being involved in the RIB layout adds to the adventure; I’m very excited about seeing the RIB for the first time and it will be great to see what I am going to be living on throughout my challenge.”
More information on Jolly Olly’s RIB Quest 2013, plus details on how to donate funds or sponsor Olly, can be found at www.ollysribquest.com
