Harbour fundraiser in memory of Joe Way raises more than £5,500

This year’s Joe Way Paddle for Life has raised £5,591.58 for charities and good causes.

The latest fundraising takes the total raised in memory of Newquay boy Joe Way to £193,545 since the event began in 2008.

The annual Paddle for Life was established in memory of Joe, who was four when he died. It has grown from a memorial paddle into a community event involving families, local businesses, surf lifesavers, musicians and volunteers.

A total of £5,240 is being donated following this year’s event, supporting organisations involved in lifesaving, emergency care, bereavement support, youth development and dementia awareness.

Newquay Surf Life Saving Club, Lusty Surf Life Saving Club and Surf Life Saving Cornwall will each receive £500.

Donations of £500 will also be made to Children’s Hospice South West, Cornwall Air Ambulance, childhood cancer organisation Harlyn’s Heroes and bereavement charity Penhaligon’s Friends.

The Wave Project will receive £1,250 in total. This includes £250 from the main fundraising pot and a £1,000 pre-event donation made up of £500 from St Columb Financial Services and £500 in matched funding.

Amplify SW will receive £150, Newquay Purple Angels will receive £140 and Ronald McDonald House Bristol will receive £200.

Joe’s father Matt Way, who was named the South West winner of Pride of Britain in 2018, said the event was about remembering his son while turning something “incredibly sad” into something positive.

“We are absolutely blown away by what everyone has achieved again this year,” he said.

“£5,591.58 is a fantastic amount of money, but behind that figure are hundreds of people giving their time, businesses supporting us, volunteers working behind the scenes, people taking part and the whole community coming together.”

Mr Way said Joe would have turned 22 this year and the family was proud that his memory continued to bring people together.

The charity cheques will be presented at Newquay Rowing Club at 11am on Saturday 5 September, the date of Joe’s 22nd birthday.

The Way family has thanked everyone who paddled, volunteered, donated, sponsored participants or supported this year’s event.