Get the Soapbox Started!

Colne BID (Business Improvement District) has agreed to back The Super Soapbox Challenge – expected to draw crowds of around 20,000 people – but it needs local businesses and organisations to help get if off the ground.

The Super Soapbox Challenge will take place on Father’s Day, Sunday June 18th. The event will start outside the Town Hall where a 4-metre-high start ramp will be erected to help competitors get a flying start down Albert Road and will be staged by a company which has already achieved major success with similar events in places such as York, Bradford and Barrow-in-Furness, in Cumbria, where Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards was among the competitors.

Andrew Pearson, Marketing Director for The Super Soapbox Challenge Company said: “It will be a fantastic, free community event for Colne which we predict will bring 20,000 people into the centre for a fun-packed, family day out.

“Our post-event research on similar soapbox race-days we’ve organised elsewhere suggests that between 20-25 per cent of attendees will travel from outside of the town so it’s a great way to showcase Colne to new visitors too.

“Initial response from the business community has been very positive with some of the sponsorship packages being reserved within a few days of the initial offer. We’re still seeking a principal sponsor at present, along with other sponsors can take on some of the other packages on offer.”

Individuals and teams taking part in the event will be able to use it to raise money for charity and schools and charities themselves will also be encouraged to enter. Businesses can enter corporate teams to build and race their carts as well as non-corporate groups.

“it will be great for the town centre and is likely to become an annual event if we can get the first one off the ground.”

 

Over and above trophies for the top racers, entrants can compete for awards such as “Most Innovative Cart Design”, “Best Turned-out Soapbox Crew” and even “Joker of the Day!”

Colne BID Manager, Aneesa McGladdery said: “These soapbox events take place across many cities in the UK as well as Europe and they are increasingly popular. They’re also very good for shops and businesses, bringing in lots of families for a fun-packed day-out and leaving a lasting feel good impression on visitors from further afield. We have a great opportunity to make this happen for Colne but delivering an event of this type will require a number of sponsors to come forward. Experience elsewhere suggests it will be great for the town centre and is likely to become an annual event if we can get the first one off the ground.”

A variety of sponsorship packages, costing from £500, are available and any business or organisation interested in supporting the event is asked to contact Aneesa McGladdery on 07856 403761 or Andrew Pearson on 07885 944478.

Businesses can put their name to winners’ trophies, the stage, the finish area, course barriers, pit stop areas and more.

The action starts at 11am with the first cart being released from the top of the ramp by a yet-to-be-announced celebrity and continues throughout the day until around 5pm when prize giving will take place on the stage followed by live music. Big screens at either end of the course will enable everyone to witness this spectacular, free community event.