Sprinting up Smith Street...

Friday 31 January 2020

If you're heading into St Peter Port this lunchtime you'll see a number of teams racing up Smith Street, with their legs tied together.

If you're wondering why they're doing that, it's to raise awareness of bowel cancer, while raising money for the local charity Bowel Cancer Guernsey.

Today is Loud Tie Day, which is an annual event to raise money to buy specialist diagnostic equipment for the island. More recently the 'Smith Street Dash' has been added to the day's events, with a three-legged race up the hill happening for a second time today. There will be prizes for the loudest tie and the fastest team.

Pictured: Loud Tie Day 2020 is today. 

Aaron Walden, Commercial Manager at Skipton International, says: "We are delighted to be sponsoring the event again this January in support of such a worthy charity.

"Last January’s event was a fun way to spend a Friday lunchtime while also supporting Bowel Cancer Guernsey. It’s fantastic that it’s back, we’ll be entering our teams in the race and we hope to see lots of other businesses’ teams enter with their loud ties, getting competitive and racing for the coveted trophy!"

Anne Brouard from Bowel Cancer Guernsey said: "We are so thankful to Skipton for their generous sponsorship, making it possible for the event to come back for 2020. 

"It was fantastic to see so many teams take part in the Dash last year and it’s a great way to get people out of the office and moving during their lunch break. We hope to get lots of teams entering again and that their supporters will come down to watch."

14 teams took part last year, from a variety of businesses including IAG, Louvre, Ravenscroft, Equiom and Skipton International. All the teams raced in the heats, with the two fastest teams battling it out in the final for the trophy. In the end, it was IAG’s Golden Glory team that took the win with a time of 15:43 seconds.

Mrs Brouard said: "We’re hoping to see more businesses enter teams to take on those from 2019 as we’re sure they’ll be back for 2020 to see if they can take the winning spot."

The Skipton Smith Street Dash takes place on Friday 31 January from 12:30.

The charity is keen to stress the importance of islanders knowing the symptoms of bowel cancer and of going to their GP should they have any worries.

For more information about bowel cancer signs and symptoms, Bowel Cancer Guernsey and Loud Tie Day head to their website, or their Facebook or Twitter pages.