3 July 2016
By Bryan T. Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
Voxpro, the well known Cork based call centre, has teamed up with the Royal Cork Yacht Club, Crosshaven to teach 40 Voxpro team members the art of sailing. The initiative is part of a fundraising drive to help raise vital funds for Voxpro’s charity partner Breakthrough Cancer Research.
The 8 week ‘Try Sailing’ programme sees Voxpro team members from differing skill level split into two teams for weekly training sessions. Participants come from a variety of nationalities – Italian, Irish, French and Portuguese – with one of the more experienced sailors, Michael O’Sullivan, a Voxpro Google team member, having sailed in Cork Week in 2004 in the first Cork boat to win the competition.
The ‘Try Sailing’ programme will conclude with the ultimate sailing challenge in Crosshaven on the 8th July. The series of races are expected to last an estimated 4-6 hours, depending on weather and tide conditions. The winners of this race will go on to compete in Volvo Cork Week, where over 100 other yachts have already confirmed for the 2016 event.
Dan Kiely, CEO Voxpro said, “We give where we live. The sailing training is just one element of our fundraising efforts, we hope to raise €50,000 from this event. We’ve been busy getting clients and other businesses from around Cork involved in sponsoring this event. Cancer is a disease that has touched many families and we wanted to give our Voxpro family a chance to learn a new skill while raising vital funds for our charity partner, Breakthrough Cancer Research.”
Dan Kiely, VoxPro, Colin Morehead, Try Sailing Ambassador, Royal Cork Yacht Club, Eoghan O’Sullivan – Campaigns Manager, Breakthrough Cancer Research, Linda Kiely, VoxPro and Kieran O’Connell – Rear Admiral Keel Boat Racing, Royal Cork Yacht Club.Picture: Miki Barlok
Following the race, Voxpro will host their annual staff summer BBQ at Royal Cork Yacht Club. The Moulin Rouge/ Carnivale theme will have music from the Voxpro band and entertainment from fire breathers, stilt walkers and burlesque dancers.
If you wish to help Voxpro support Breakthrough Cancer Research check out their ‘Just Giving’ page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/voxpro
