Island Life Magazine Ltd August/September 2015 | Page 53

Slip sliding away... H undreds of people took the chance to ride 200 metres down the Bestival Ryde Slide in Union Street in July – and raised £3,000 for charity into the bargain. Islanders who wanted to ride the giant inflatable water slide had been asked to donate £5 via the website or text, which put them into a draw for a chance to take the plunge. Winners were then picked at random – and all 480 of the eventual lucky sliders agreed that it had been a fiver well spent. Among the first to hop onto a lilo and do the slide were the local fire fighters who had helped provide the water to keep people moving, and then Ryde Councillor Wayne Whittle and Bestival founder Rob da Bank. The £3,000 total raised will be split between local charitable causes - Ryde Inshore Rescue, Aspire Ryde Community Centre (Holy Trinity Church), Ryde Arena Ltd (Ice Rink) and Ryde Waterside Pool via the Ryde Slide Trust and 100 here 100 there – the fire service’s chosen charity.