A seasick student is going to be putting his fears to one side next weekend in his quest to raise money for ‘Wish Upon A Dream’, and hopefully be crowned the first ever ‘Sure Apprentice’.
Aaron Kelly, 17, will be making two return ferry trips between the Isle of Man and Liverpool on Saturday 18th July.
All of the sponsorship money he raises will go to the charity, which grants wishes for children and young people with severe and life-limiting illnesses.
He will sail to Liverpool at 7.30am, returning on the 11.30am crossing. He will then get back onto the Seacat for the 15.30 sailing, returning to the Island on the 19.30 boat.
Due to health and safety restrictions, Aaron will have to get off the ferry at each location and check-in again.
In the hope of attracting further sponsorship during each crossing, Aaron will be dressed as a fairy, the emblem of ‘Wish Upon A Dream’!
Fellow passengers will also be able to purchase tombola tickets whilst on their ferry journey; prizes include a ‘Brite Smile’ laser tooth-whitening voucher from Tracey Bell, and gifts from Elite Voyages and Barclays.
Aaron is one of two finalists in the ‘Sure Apprentice’ contest, which has involved teams of students from Ballakermeen High School over the course of the current academic year.
The other finalist, Robyn Sayers, is hosting her own unique fundraiser on Saturday 18th July - a night of music and Indian cuisine at Broadway Baptist Church.
They were put through to the final after being interviewed by Ruth Badger, a finalist in the BBC television show ‘The Apprentice’ featuring Sir Alan Sugar.
Sure has given Aaron ?500 to help him organise his event. The Isle of Man Steam Packet company is covering the cost of his trips between Douglas and Liverpool.
This final task will be scored on managing a budget, leading a team and the amount of money that is raised for ‘Wish Upon A Dream’ which Sure has supported for the last year.
The prize is an apprenticeship this summer with Sure.
Aaron says 'When we were tasked with organising an event for the final of the Sure Apprentice, I wanted to do something that would challenge me and sailing is a big challenge!
'I do suffer from seasickness very badly so four crossings between the Island and Liverpool in a day will be tough, but hopefully I will raise a lot of money for Wish Upon A Dream and for children and young people who are less fortunate than myself.
'I would encourage people to support me in my quest, and would like to thank Sure and the Steam Packet for making it possible.'
If anyone would like to sponsor Aaron, they can contact him or make a donation by emailing aaron_kelly91@live.co.uk.
Sure began its own version of the BBC TV show 'The Apprentice' in October 2008.
To win the opportunity to work with Sure, competitors have had to complete a succession of tasks in different categories: Customer Satisfaction and Market Research; Marketing; Product Design; and Organising and Hosting a Charity Event.
All competitors who have taken part in the Sure Apprentice are either 16 or 17 years old, and have just completed their first year of A-Levels at Ballakermeen High School.
The competition judges are Country Manager of Cable and Wireless in the Isle of Man, Mike Stanton, Geoff Corkish MBE MHK and journalist Joanne Clague.
