A skateboarding mum-of-two has hit on a wheelie great idea to raise money for a cancer charity.Architect Laura Powell will be jamming with a group of 30-something skateboarders at a fundraising evening on June 2nd.
The 33-year old, of Lupton Drive, Barrowford, organised the over 21s skateboarding jam to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support after losing her grandfather to the illness in 2005. Mrs Powell, who has been skating for just under 20 years, said: "There's a big demand from older people, people who are over 30.
"Usually there's a lot of skaters who are 17-years-old and this can be quite intimidating, so we have the 21 and over age restriction. It will attract more older people."
She got the idea after she read a message on a skateboarding website aimed at middle-aged skateboarders. A chatroom member posted a message about losing his mother to cancer and the 30 responses to his message made her realise how many people were affected by the illness, she added.
Mrs Powell, who has just finished a seven year training course to qualify as an architect, became interested in skating when she was given a board by a friend at school.
She said: "When I was 14 or 15 I was with a friend's who had a skateboard but was not that bothered about skating.
"We spent all day skating and I have never really stopped except forwhen I had the children."
Mrs Powell, who skates with her husband Mark Nutter, is hoping to raise a thousand pounds from the evening. She said: "Hopefully we will get a lot of people turning up to skate and have fun."
The evening, at Interact Skate Park, Burnley, from 8pm to midnight, will also include a raffle with prizes donated by Vans and Girl, two specialists in skateboarding gear. Tickets cost £10 and all proceeds go to the charity.
Source: http://www.burnleycitizen.co.uk
