A CORNISH business has certainly pitched in to help an annual Newquay paddle fundraiser become a success.

Ian Chambers, co-director of Pitched, originally built The Joe Way Paddle for Life’s first website in 2008 following Joe’s passing.

The original website remains live today in its original form, continuing to tell Joe’s story and preserve his memory for people around the world.

Nearly five years later a second website dedicated specifically to the Joe Way Paddle for Life, along with the well-known paddle logo and branding which was created by Scott Dickinson, are helping the event continue to grow and reach new generations of supporters.

This year, Pitched has once again returned as an official sponsor of the Joe Way Paddle for Life, donating £500 for the second consecutive year.

Matt Way, Joe’s father, said: “After Joe died, Ian and I spent many evenings talking about ways we could raise money in Joe’s memory and turn something devastating into something positive for the community.

“The RNLI lifeguards organised the very first paddle from Watergate Bay to Newquay Harbour in Joe’s memory, and that became the start of the Joe Way Memorial Cup and eventually the Joe Way Paddle for Life.

“At first we thought maybe we could raise £2,000, then perhaps £5,000, and eventually we set ourselves a target of £10,000.

“But within the first 50 weeks, more than £42,000 had already been raised through an incredible effort from family, friends, businesses and the wider community.

“People gave what they could. Some donated everything they had, businesses stepped in to help, and every single fundraiser mattered.”

Since those early fundraising efforts by Ian and Matt in Joe’s memory, the event has now raised in excess of £188,000 for more than 20 different charities.

This year’s event takes place at Newquay Harbour on June 18 from 3pm.