press release

22 June 2009

Steve Redgrave leads Red Devils charity skydive

Sir Steve Redgrave is to lead a team of brave individuals in a charity sky diving fundraiser with the Red Devils in aid of Disability Snowsport UK.

The skydive team will include former Olympic skier Alain Baxter, the charity’s CEO Fiona Young, Crystal’s MD Mathew Prior and British Association of Snowsport Instructors (BASI) Chairman Andrew Lockerbie. Together with Crystal staff and instructors from BASI the team will attempt to raise £25,000 for DSUK. They will jump from 13,000 feet as part of a tandem sky dive alongside the Parachute regiment’s free fall team 'The Red Devils' at their base in Netheravon, Wiltshire on July 10th.

Disability Snowsport provides access to adaptive skiing for people with disabilities. To take part in a sport such as skiing there are numerous barriers to overcome, including paying for specialist equipment. The charity aims to give people with disabilities access to snow sports at a cost equivalent to that which an able-bodied person would pay.

The event will also be the beginning of a new partnership between Crystal and Disability Snowsport UK. Crystal Ski will use its power as the No1 tour operator to make Disability Snowsport more widely known, offer ski trips at reduced prices and provide practical help and assistance in resort. Crystal’s Mathew Prior, said: “We applaud the work the charity does to make snow sports available to disabled people. We will do everything we can, as the leading ski operator, to assist them commercially as well as with practical help in resort and by spreading the word about what they do.”

Sir Steve Redgrave is a supporter of the charity and came up with the idea for the jump earlier this year. He said: “I was a bit apprehensive at first and when I broke my leg at a sporting event I thought I would be able to get out of it, but unfortunately the plaster comes off two days before the jump! The money raised is going to a great cause and although I can’t say I am looking forward to the jump I am glad we are raising huge amounts of money for the charity.”

If you would like to sponsor the team, please visit the justgiving page at: www.justgiving.com/sir-steve-red-devils

General information about the charity can be found at www.disabilitysnowsport.org.uk

and for more information about Crystal at www.crystalski.co.uk

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Media enquires, pictures and interviews:

Disability Snowsport UK                                    Crystal Ski

Amy King / Fundraising Co-ordinator                    Marion Telsnig / PR

Tel: 0161 7492290                                          tel: 020 8939 5027

Email:  Amyking@disabilitysnowsport.org.uk          email: marion.telsnig@tuiski.com