Lockdown hobby inspires South West Skaters to raise cash for Teenage Cancer Trust

A group of skaters recently took on the summer heat to skate 10 miles in just two hours and 20 minutes along the Weymouth coastline for Teenage Cancer Trust.

Local housing association Aster Group employee, Cara Donn started roller skating during the most recent lockdown and joined local club, the South West Skaters at the start of 2021.

She took part in the skateathon alongside seven other South West Skaters team members to use her new hobby to raise some cash for a good cause.

Aster Group donated £250 to sponsor Cara as part of its match-funding programme for employees, and in total the team raised £865 for charity.

The South West Skaters bladed the 10 miles from Weymouth to Portland and back, joining thousands of others by the seaside over the weekend.

Cara said: “We decided to set ourselves the challenge of skating from the Oasis café on one end of Weymouth seafront, all the way down the esplanade, through town, along the Rodwell trail, up to the Lidl on Portland Road and back again.

“It was incredibly hot on the day, but we were so proud to complete the challenge.

“We are an inclusive and supportive group that brings people together through their love of skating. We teach each other tips and tricks and help build confidence. We have grown into a real community and have found it has been incredible for positive mental health following such a long period of isolation.

“When we saw that the Teenage Cancer Trust was encouraging people to skate and raise money, we knew this was the right cause to get involved with.”

The Teenage Cancer Trust improves the quality of life and chances for survival of young cancer patients aged 13-24. It funds and builds specialist units in NHS hospitals and provides dedicated staff, bringing young people together so they can be treated by cancer experts in the best place for them.

The team is still accepting donations, just visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/southwestskaters

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