‘We’ll keep on skating’ (From Stourbridge News)

‘We’ll keep on skating’

9:43am Thursday 8th February 2007 in Local By Martyn Smith

A KINVER woman who completed an epic skateboard trek across Australia has vowed to stay on the fundraising road.

Bev Blackburn spent the last five months as part of the seven-strong support team for long-distance boarder Dave Cornthwaite.

Bev, aged 22, was popping champagne corks when Dave finished a marathon skate from Perth to Brisbane last month, having covered a distance of nearly 4,000 miles.

Dave smashed the world record for long distance skating during his journey to raise £50,000 for sick and needy children.

Bev, from Vicarage Road, was with Dave for every turn of his wheels providing logistical support and collecting donations.

After crossing the finishing line with Dave on Monday January 22, Bev said: "Everyone is a little tired now and I think we are going to take it a little easier on the way back to Sydney but the fundraising doesn't stop until we hit £50,000."

During the journey which followed a route along the southern coast of the massive country, Bev was responsible for keeping Dave fed and topped up with vitamins as he coped with blisters and searing 40 degree heat.

She also drove ahead of the main group to arrange accommodation and, as an accomplished musician, kept team morale up with a song at the end of a hard day on the road.

Bev said: "I still can't believe it, what we have achieved in such a short space of time is outstanding.

"We have worked as hard as we possibly could and deserve to hit our target quickly."

For more information on the charities supported by Dave's Boardfree charity, or to make a donation, visit www.boardfree.co.uk.