PUBLISHED 7 JULY 2011 16:15
Boat of hope
Harry's Story is on course to inspire charity among Audi Winter Series sailors this Sunday.
Text by Matthew Henry
The yacht they call ‘the boat of hope’ will sail down Sydney Harbour at the weekend in a bid to inspire sailors to open their hearts, and their wallets, in support of children's hospice Bear Cottage.
Harry’s Story will head south from Middle Harbour to take up pride of place in ‘The Pond’ at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia ahead of the final race in the Audi Winter Series this Sunday, as part of a final push to raise $500,000 for Bear Cottage, Manly.
The boat, a Hanse 355 named in honour of seven-year-old Harry Townsend, who sadly lost his battle with a terminal illness just two weeks ago, is being offered by local Hanse dealer Windcraft as the grand prize in the charity raffle.
Of the 5000 tickets issued at $100 each, 2000 still remain with only three weeks to go in the campaign.
It is hoped that the boat's presence in the club's most visible berth – and the touching story behind its name – will inspire charity among the CYCA's Audi Winter Series sailors and visitors to the club.
“We’re having a big push now to sell the final tickets, because that’s another $200,000 that could go straight to Bear Cottage,” said Windcraft’s Mary Bickley. “That extra money would make this a spectacular donation.”
Jo and Lyle Townsend with their son Jake at Harry's Story's christening.
During little Harry’s three-year battle with terminal illness, parents Jo and Lyle Townsend benefitted from the support and care Bear Cottage offers the families of terminally ill children.
Harry’s rare illness left him with a small hole in his heart and lesions in the parts of his brain which controlled his breathing and heartbeat.
During their stays at Bear Cottage, the Townsends were able to take a break from caring for Harry to enjoy time as a family.
The Townsends were among the first to get behind the fundraising raffle when it was launched earlier this year, and last weekend were joined by Manly MP and NSW Treasurer Mike Baird for the yacht’s christening at the Middle Harbour Yacht Club.
After Harry's Story's tour of the Harbour, the boat will move to the Sydney International Boat Show later this month for the final week in the raffle, which will be drawn on 31 July.
Raffle tickets can be purchased online at www.355forbearcottage.com, or call Windcraft 02 9979 1709.
