A BRIGHT blue UNICEF-branded yacht sailed through Sydney Heads on Sunday evening, December 13, bringing with it a message to protect children.
The yacht, branded by the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, is the first ever partnership with UNICEF in the 19-year-old event, and has sailed from London for the biennial global race for amateur competitors.
The Clipper Race named UNICEF as its official charity for its 2015-16 and 2017-18 editions to promote UNICEF’s global work with children, particularly across the multiple humanitarian emergencies that have put children in danger throughout 2015.
Alongside the UNICEF yacht crew, all Clipper Race crew have chosen to personally raise funds for UNICEF’s work to build a safer world for children.
To date crew members have raised more than $280,000 for children’s health, education and protection programs against a target in excess of $600,000
UNICEF Australia Fundraising Director Michael Newsome said UNICEF was delighted to welcome the Clipper Race and the international contingent of crew members to Sydney.
“We are extremely excited to see the race make it to Sydney and grateful for the incredible support shown to UNICEF by the Clipper Race and crew,” he said.
“With the help of crew members and sponsors, UNICEF can make sure more children grow up happy, healthy and strong.”
The 12 Clipper teams will visit six continents, including stopovers in Rio, Cape Town, Sydney, Da Nang, Qingdao, Seattle, Panama, New York, Derry-Londonderry and Den Helder before returning to London in summer of 2016 to a victorious homecoming.
During three Australian races, it will sail from Albany, Western Australia, to Sydney; participate in the annual Sydney to Hobart yacht race from Boxing Day; and sail on to Airlie Beach in Queensland before departing for Vietnam.
To join volunteer crew members in supporting UNICEF’s global work to keep children from danger, donate here or text the word ‘Clipper’ to 199 58 888.
Source: UNICEF Australia
