Our Adopted Charity

You have probably heard the sad news that Andy Ripley OBE, former British and Irish Lion, England Rugby international, BBC Superstars champion, Boat Race trialist, indoor rowing champion and Tideway Scullers School President died last week after a long battle with prostate cancer.

press: 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/sport-obituaries/7835829/Andy-Ripley.html

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/rugby_union/article7133833.ece

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/7528376/Former-England-and-Rosslyn-Park-star-Andy-Ripley-stands-tall-in-face-of-prostate-cancer.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/7750228/Ex-rugby-international-Andy-Ripley-receives-OBE-from-Prince-Charles.html

Since first learning of his condition in 2005 Andy has campaigned tirelessly on behalf of the Prostate Cancer charity to raise money and awareness about this illness. (link: http://www.prostate-cancer.org.uk/news/news_detail.asp?id=1303)

To show the high regard in which Andy was held by TSS, the rowing community and the general public at large we are getting 500 t-shirts produced that will be sold for a suggested donation of £7.50 per shirt. 

TSS will not receive any money from the sales with all proceeds going to The Prostate Cancer Charity: http://www.prostate-cancer.org.uk/

The t-shirts will be as follows:
- yellow t-shirt
- on the back it has the words (which are taken from Andy Ripley's book):
"Dare we hope? We dare.
Can we hope? We can.
Should we hope? We must.
- Andy Ripley OBE"
- across the front it has the charity's logo.

It would be a fantastic boost to our fund raising drive at the regatta if Regatta Radio could help with promotion in memory of an inspirational man, a contributor to our sport and to a good cause in the hope of relieving suffering for others both now and in the future.

Any help and ideas of how we might be able to spread the word using the radio at Henley would be gratefully appreciated.

All the best and good luck for next week. I am looking forward to being on the receiving end of some commentary this year.

Freddy