Olympic Champions Tim Baillie and Etienne Stott who won gold in the Canoe Slalom C2 will join double Olympic Champion Andrew Triggs-Hodge MBE and ocean rower, Sarah Outen MBE at the Ecover Blue Mile – this year’s summer charity event taking place over the weekend of the 8 and 9 September in historic Plymouth, and raising vital funds for WWF’s work with water.
Tim, Etienne and Andy will be taking to the water in Plymouth on Saturday 8 September in the individual Fatyak kayak event in an attempt to outpace each other to the finish line. Sarah, the first and youngest female to row the Indian Ocean, will take on the aquatriathlon and swim, stand up paddle and kayak her way to the finish.
The athletes are hoping that their presence at this year’s event will encourage more people to get active and complete a mile for charity following the huge success of Team GB this summer.
Tim Baillie and crewmate Etienne Stott said: “We are delighted to be taking part in such a great event that promotes watersports like canoeing, encouraging more people to take part, as well as raising awareness for such a worth while cause of protecting the environment. Our sport is totally dependent on having access to clean water and the Ecover Blue Mile is a perfect way to highlight the two issues. We hope lots of people will come along and support it.”
Andrew Triggs-Hodge said, “The Ecover Blue Mile is the perfect way for us to engage with our blue environments, from our oceans to our rivers and lakes. WWF does fantastic work safeguarding these habitats and protecting the species that depend on them. Through this event we can not only begin to appreciate the watery world around us, but also support WWF’s vital work through fundraising. And even better, it gives us the perfect excuse to get fit this summer and do something active with friends and family.”
Sarah Outen said “I am really looking forward to the Ecover Blue Mile – both to being a part of such a positive event and seeing people enjoying a challenge on and in the water. We all have a part to play in protecting the world’s water and it’s great that the Blue Mile is helping to inspire this action and awareness.”
If you would like to join the athletes on the water and take part in the Ecover Blue Mile go to the website, www.thebluemile.org where you can enter online. If you want to see them in action, come down to the Mayflower Steps from 16:00 on Saturday at Plymouth’s waterfront. The Event Village will be open to the public from 09:00-17:00 on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th September.
