HELICOPTER CHESS CHALLENGE
LAUNCH OF NATIONAL CHESS WEEK 20th – 26th OCTOBER
12 year old Junior Chess Champion, David Howell is taking to the skies for a Helicopter Chess Challenge to launch the first ever National Chess Week for Barnardo’s.
To prove chess isn’t boring David will be checking out his mate’s moves as he flies into various schools across the country, challenging groups of children to games of chess with a difference. David will prove he is “King of the Boards” as he joins up to play chess with some of the thousands of children who are taking part in the event.
David will depart his college, Eastbourne College, Eastbourne at 09.15am and will fly by Royal Navy helicopter to St Thomas’s School, Guildford to play chess against a local chess expert.
From Guildford, David will then fly to Barnardo’s High Close School, Wokingham to meet pupils there. Sandy Paterson, Principal of Barnardo’ s High Close School said ‘I think that chess is a real challenge and a great enjoyment for our young people. It teaches them strategy, tactics and provides great enjoyment but most of all provides a great challenge to learn the different aspects of the game. Chess is also an aid to promoting relaxation and calm as it teaches young people to think out their moves rather than act rashly.’
From High Close David is set for an hour’s flight to Badgerbrook Primary School, Leicester where children dressed up as chess pieces on a giant chess board will be waiting to do battle with the junior chess champ. After the game the pupils from Badgerbrook will run an in-house chess event raising money for Barnardo’s. David says ‘I am very glad to be involved with National Chess Week, and hope that it will encourage many children and young people to take up chess. It is a very exciting game, and, unlike football, it can be played in all weathers! I hope that lots of schools will take the opportunity to raise money for Barnardo's and help as many children as possible.’
From Leicester, David will end the day by flying into Chelsea Barracks and then driving to a photocall at the Art of Chess Exhibition, The Gilbert Collection, Somerset House, London, before ending the day with the finale of the launch party at City In Hotel, Westminster, where David will meet up with his fellow members of the British Junior Chess Team.
Some fantastic events are taking place during National Chess Week for Barnardo’s, from human chess to fancy dress chess. Event organiser, Peter Evans from Chess Academy said of the event ‘The enthusiasm of the children to take part has been staggering. It proves beyond doubt that many thousands of enjoy playing chess and want to help Barnardo's'.
All schools and clubs across the country are being invited to take part in National Chess Week, which is sponsored by The British Land Company PLC. Each group that registers online will have the opportunity to win a computer.
For every game played, participants will be asked to donate £1 to Barnardo’s to help fund the UK’s largest children’s charity’s work ensuring children are free from poverty, abuse and discrimination across the UK.