<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Hi</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">My name is Al Mennie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am a surfer from Northern Ireland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have been lucky enough to have spent a lot of time riding big waves all around the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My next challenge is a little different!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">I plan to paddle a surfboard across a very unique stretch of water at the end of March beginning of April 2012.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will be the northernmost crossing of its type in the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I will cross between Northern Ireland and The Scottish island of Islay. The distance is only 25 miles but is similar to a crossing the Hawaiians do in suncream and boardshorts. I will be wearing a specially designed custom made Snugg wetsuit to combat the wind chill at this time of year. The stretch of water is notorious for heavy currents as the Atlantic meets the Irish Sea which is my biggest concern.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Charity</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am asking the public to donate money to Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke. My Dad died suddenly of a heart attack aged 50 and I know lots of people who have also lost loved ones to heart problems too so I really want to help make a difference by raising money for this charity. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sponsors</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">I am really lucky to have great sponsors and partners to help me with my challenge. They include... <strong>Surftech paddle boards </strong>who are helping me with specific equipment to make the crossing, <strong>Richard Connor of Causeway Lass </strong>who has kindly donated his fishing boat and expert skills and knowledge to help me Navigate the Channel, <strong>Chasers Surf Tours</strong>, <strong>Future Fins</strong>, <strong>Gecko Headgear</strong>, <strong>Snugg Wetsuits </strong>who have made me a custom high tech suit to combat windchill and keep flexibility, <strong>little green fox </strong>who are supplying me with balm to help keep the elements effect to a min, <strong>darkfin gloves </strong>who are supplying me with webbed gloves to help me paddle if it gets too rough to stand up, <strong><a href="http://www.bespoke-pt.co.uk">www.bespoke-pt.co.uk</a></strong> who have been training me for the paddle and providing nutrition advice too, <strong>Pure Krav Maga Causeway, Tonys Marine</strong> and <strong>Bunk Campers and Coleraine Borough Council who have kindly come onboard to help me</strong>. I still need some other equipment and supplies so if anyone or their businesses wish to support me with any of the following I would greatly appreciate it. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">Thank you to <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Tim MacDonald </span>for volunteering your skills as a paramedic to come with us on the boat and to <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Conn, Jamie, Leah, Andrew, Tommy Evans, Richard and Howard Robinson, Marcus Covell, </span>and all you other guys who have helped me so far and donated money to the charity. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">Also thank you to Gerard McCauley of Causeway Coast Surf Club for donating a gift for me to present to Islays only surfer Marcus Covell upon arrival on Islay.&nbsp; I want to in some way connect the north coast surfers to the Scottish ones so along with a few personal gifts of my own I will be presenting Marcus with a gift from the club.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">If you chose to share any links related to this please use the one for this page so people can donate easily rather than the link from my website.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">Please email me if you or your company can help supply any of the above <a href="mailto:al@almennie.com">al@almennie.com</a> </span></p>