S/Y Maiden – Celebrity Crowdfunder Boosts Support

Back in March we announced that we were proud to support and sponsor S/Y Maiden and The Maiden Factor team with our LTEA cellular services for their planned world tour. Thirty years ago, Maiden carried the first all-female crew, skippered by Tracy Edwards, to sail around the globe when she competed in the worlds’ toughest ever yacht race. Her mission; to prove that women could compete alongside men. The rest is history, and in November 2018 Maiden set sail on a new mission; to empower and inspire women and girls around the globe and to enable girls into education. But in March this year a three year world tour was scuppered by the coronavirus pandemic. The charity quickly began to struggle financially due to fundraising events having to be cancelled, and Tracy Edwards launched a crowdfunder appeal to save the campaign. Her Whitbread medal was put up for sale as part of a reward in exchange for a £2,000 donation. But to Tracy’s surprise a mystery donor paid £10,000 for the medal and asked her to keep it. Edwards said: “It’s not so much about keeping the medal, it’s about the fact there is a human being out there with such an amazing heart. There is just such a massive amount of support and kindness towards Maiden which is something she really generates - she’s so special and people see that.” So far the charity’s crowdfunder, supported by celebrities including Whoopi Goldberg and Jamie Lee Curtis, has raised more than £100,000 of a £150,000 target. The charity plans to restart the three-year world tour in March next year. CrowdFunder link.