Tel: 01305 777277

Patrons:
John Montagu, The Earl of Sandwich Lord Knight of Weymouth
Major General Sir Michael Palmer KCVO Caroline Rucker

Will Mackaness Trust

“The aim of The Will Mackaness Trust is to give as many young people the opportunity to experience the thrill of water activities and give financial support to those who have shown a particular skill in water activities to enable them to progress further.”

The trust was set up following the untimely death of the former Head Boy (2007-2008) of The Wey Valley School and Sports College, Will Mackaness.

Will was an avid sportsman who, however, took a full and active part in all aspects of school life, despite undergoing intensive treatment for the most aggressive form of brain tumour.
One of Will’s passions was water sports especially windsurfing. It is for this reason that the trust has been set up to help give more water sport opportunities to our pupils, so they can experience the fun and exhilaration of windsurfing, sailing, canoeing and kayaking for themselves. Water sports are such an expensive but immensely enjoyable activity and the trust aims to help support pupils who want to take it up or wish to progress further.

The Trust has:

Enabled pupils to learn to windsurf, sail, kayak and surf
Given pupils the chance to develop windsurfing and racing skills.
Sponsored pupils to go on Tall Ships Challenge trips.
Contributed to pupils taking part in this year’s expedition to Alaska through the Dorset Expedition Society.

Sponsored Tom Mules in his quest to become a world class biathlete.

The Trust can only function through the support and hard work of friends of the Wey Valley School and Sports College through their generous donations and inspirational fund raising activities. Indeed, three of the original pupils who learnt to windsurf through the Trust undertook to windsurf from Portland over to Overcombe Corner, raising over £1000

The Trust was the chosen charity for DEK in 2009 who donated over £ 3000 through the generosity of their employees and the efforts of 2 of their employees in particular who took part in a sponsored triathothlon cycling, walking and kayaking from North Devon to Overcombe Corner.
 

Also 2 former pupils completed a walk, run and kayak from Lulworth to the Pavilion and back to Overcombe Corner, another former pupil undertook the Ironman challenge to raise money for the
Trust.

The Trust is applying for Charitable status and we are lucky to have Nick Dempsey ( world and Olympic windsurfer) as one of the trustees.