Wetsuit and apparel specialist Huub is one of two local businesses in Derby, UK, that have stepped in as main sponsors for a giant inflatable water slide that will come to Kipling Drive in Mickleover, Derby, on Sunday 7 September.
Huub, which used to be in Mickleover before its expansion to Sinfin, and local established construction company MBS, are now funding the attraction – enabling all the entry fees for the event to be donated to charity.
The two companies have joined Derby-based Greendog Media, which has developed the website and online application technology to cope with the thousands of people applying to have the chance to join the event.
Huub founder and Director Dean Jackson and MBS Managing Director Adam Stevenson are both from Mickleover and were keen to help as soon as they found out that the major sponsor lined up to support the event had pulled out.
Adam Stevenson explained, “I had got in touch with the volunteers when I heard about the slide, offering to do anything I could to help as we are always keen to support the local community – especially Mickleover where the business is still based.
“When I heard about the sponsorship difficulties, I immediately contacted Dean who is good friend and he was just as keen as I was to ensure that this event went ahead.
“It’s not only good for Mickleover but the whole of Derby as it will be a fantastic family day out and will really help to put the city on the map.”
As well as financially supporting the event, MBS is providing portable toilets and crowd barriers to cope with the thousands of people expected to turn up to enjoy the spectacle.
Huub has also organised for local wheelchair athlete Phil Hogg, who is among the top athletes sponsored by the award-winning company, to officially open the event at 11:00 GMT which then finishes at 19:00.
Phil, who competes in paratriathlons throughout the world with his sights set on Rio 2016, will also be the first of 800 people who have been drawn to have the chance to dive head first down the 100m water slide.
And to add to the excitement, the Huub team will be clocking everyone’s speed with a radar gun – setting the challenge to match the average speed of 100m champion sprint Usain Bolt which has been set at 23.5 mph.
Dean Jackson said “Speed and water is what Huub is all about so we just had to get involved in this great event right here in Mickleover.
“Phil will be setting the bar as the first down the slide – wearing his Huub wetsuit – and we will see just who can make it to the end in the fastest time. The excitement is really building for the event and the anticipation is now building for the 800 lucky people who will have the chance to hurtle down the slide to find out if they are successful.”
The draw will be made in the next few days – after which time the 800 people drawn at random will be contacted. The £5 entry fee will all be donated to Cancer Research UK; which, as chair of organisers Our Mickleover David Lewis explained, is a charity close to everyone’s heart.
“Unfortunately most people’s lives are touched by cancer in some way so we thought it very appropriate to support this charity,” said Lewis. “We have some other activities lined up for the day which will soon be finalised and the proceeds from that will be going to a local charity.”
Lewis continued that the support of MBS and Huub had saved the event and ensured the charity donations.
He said, “Negotiations with the major sponsor unfortunately broke down and we were at risk of either having to cancel or significantly reducing the amount of money that could go to charity, just to cover the costs. Thankfully Huub and MBS have stepped in and their financial and practical support has been invaluable.”
Lewis added, “Our Mickleover, run by volunteers, is all about local people working together to support the local community so it is great that two companies run by Mickleover business people are at the heart of what we are doing.”
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