Thank you

As Leg 1 draws to a tense finish, Team UNICEF is out in front of the fundraising race, as the first boat to smash its target of £30,000 for the official Clipper Round the World Yacht Race Charity Partner UNICEF.

The fundraising has been a real team effort, with more than 50 of the 67-strong crew having built fundraising pages on JustGiving. Crew members and supporters have embraced the story of The Big Blue Clipper Boat and been inspired by the vital emergency work that UNICEF is carrying out across the world.

Thomas has been leveraging his business network who have encouraged him to take on extra work and drive positive change. Jeremy has been wearing his blue clipper boat cufflinks and confesses he hasn’t taken off his crew wristband since he shook Sir Robin’s hand at Crew Allocation. AQP Laura, in cahoots with Inneke from Team Perseverance, organised a raffle and BBQ at Gosport’s Boathouse and even jumped into a bag to help promote ticket sales! Rachel wrote an article for her Parish Magazine and included the QR code linked to her JustGiving account; Oggie set himself the target of lifting the weight of a Clipper boat (31.7MT!) in the gym and Caroline brought muffins and bracelets to work. Kate is making little blue clipper boat necklaces and earrings and asked for donations with a QR code temporarily tattooed on her arm at Race Start.

Team UNICEF‘s Lead Fundraiser Kate Chernyshov comments, “I am hugely grateful to our crew and supporters for helping us reach our fundraising target so quickly. It really shows the power of team work and inspiration. At a time when children across the world face unimaginable dangers, the work of UNICEF is vital to the future of our planet and the next generation. We are especially proud to sail around the world with the name of UNICEF on our hull, highlighting their work as we cross the oceans. Thank you to each and every one of our supporters.”