Theatre groups, brass bands, puppeteers, sports stars, charity workers, skydiving fundraisers and penguins are just a few examples of the wide range of ways in which the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company’s has supported the Manx community during 2017.

Each year the ferry company provides prize vouchers for raffles and competitions, with 233 issued so far this year. In addition, it provides discounted or free travel to charitable and community groups and projects.

In total, the value of the community support has topped ?50,000 during 2017.

Some examples of the projects it has helped this year:

• A group of 12 women who cycled 450 miles through England, Isle of Man and Wales to raise money for dementia charities
• Productions at the Gaiety Theatre of hit Broadway musicals The Producers (Douglas Choral Union) and Sweet Charity (Manx Gilbert & Sullivan Society)
• A visit to the Island by the Lempen Puppet Theatre, which visited eight primary schools
• Douglas Town Band took part in the North West Regional Championships in Blackpool
• Volunteers from the Hands of Hope charity in the Isle of Man travelled to Romania to deliver essential aid
• Three generations of an Isle of Man family went skydiving from 15,000 feet to raise money for Clatterbridge Cancer Charity
• Graham Inchley, the son of an Isle of Man TT racer, tackled a lap of the TT course while pushing a specially-adapted wheelchair, raising money for the Joey Dunlop Foundation
• Touring skateboard and scooter instructors ran workshops at Ballakermeen High School
• The Isle of Man Heavy Horse Society’s annual spring show at Knockaloe in Patrick
• A retired racing greyhound who found a new home in the Isle of Man thanks to the efforts of the Greyhound Aid League Isle of Man
• Two teams of ace code crackers, who represented the Island in Dublin at the International Linguistics Olympiad
• A team of swimmers from Bunscoill Rhumsaa who took part in a national competition in Sheffield
• The arrival of new residents at Curraghs Wildlife Park – six Humboldt penguins from the Beauval Zoo in France as part of involvement in international breeding programmes.
• The Steam Packet Company is a regular supporter of several Isle of Man festivals, including Tinkermann and Manx Litfest

Isle of Man Steam Packet Company Chief Executive Mark Woodward said: ‘Supporting the Island community is something that is very close to our hearts, both in helping people who live here to attend or participate in off-Island events, and in helping to bring events and projects to the Island for the Manx community to enjoy.

‘The range of individuals, organisations and events we support is incredibly diverse and we look forward to continuing our community support during 2018.’