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The Great Teddy Bear Jump

The Great Teddy Bear Jump at The Falkirk Wheel
on 27th September 2009

Sunday September 27th will witness an event of great ‘daring do’, when up to 100 intrepid and specially trained stunt teddy bears launch themselves from the top of the Falkirk Wheel in a mass parachute jump to raise money for Seagull Trust Cruises which provides free waterway cruising access across Scotland for people with special needs – and everyone is invited to take part and sponsor a teddy as part of the event.

Under the watchful eye of Commander Growly Bear mascot of Seagull Trust Cruises, a team of bears will scale the Falkirk Wheel (well rise up in one of Seagull Trust Cruises specially built boats), check their parachutes (no spare) and then launch themselves into the abyss. The real success of the day will depend on the generosity of would be sponsors to step forward and pledge a minimum of £50 to support their trained bear. Would be sponsors can bring their own bears, or if these bears feel that the jump is too much or are afraid of getting their paws wet a specially trained bear can be purchased at the event to make the jump. The stunt bears will manoeuvre their descent to target a landing on or around a target marker flag, with a prize for the bear landing closest!

The Grand Bear Jump signals the start of a major fund raising year for Seagull Trust Cruises in Falkirk as it looks to extend the facilities. And will be the highlight of a Family Fun Day at the Falkirk Wheel. The jump itself will take place at around 2pm, subject to prevailing wind and weather conditions and will be hosted by MP Eric Joyce with the bears piped up to their jump by the Camelon Pipe Band.

The Family Fun Day itself promises much more with a range of activities and stalls, including:

Face painting
A Vintage Fire Engine
Boat rides
Belly dancing
Henna tattoos
Camelon Pipe Band
Live music & more ………….

The Grand Bear Jump has a serious purpose to raise both money and awareness of the Seagull Trust Cruises Charity. Established in 1978, Seagull Trust Cruises operates a fleet of specially built vessels through four branches in Kirkintilloch, Ratho, Inverness and Falkirk, operating on the Union, Forth & Clyde and Caledonian Canals. As well as providing a valuable facility for Scotland’s growing community of people with special needs, Seagull Trust Cruises has played an active role in helping to revitalise the decaying Scottish lowland waterways. The Charity was recognised for its efforts last year with a Queens Award for voluntary services and was honoured when The Princess Royal graciously agreed to become Royal Patron of the charity.

Over the next year the Falkirk Seagull trust Cruises team are aiming to raise significant funds to develop the Falkirk Boathouse into a centre of excellence, with facilities for people with special needs and access to learning facilities for young people to help them learn more about the local canal network, its history and its role today, both environmentally and as a leisure facility.

All teddies taking part in this daring event will get a certificate to prove they really have performed a parachute jump and the winning teddy will win a family day out on one of the Seagull Trust Cruises boats.

The jump is free to register and to sponsor a trained Teddy simply requires a donation of £50 in sponsorship – more is always welcome, or sponsor two bears!!

For those who would like to be a part of this fun event contact

Seagull Trust Cruises Fundraiser Sonia McLay on:

Tel: 01324 412183 or

Email events@stccruises-falkirk.org.uk

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