The drive to find volunteer marshals for this year’s TT begins on Saturday 22 May with a push!

Teams of volunteers will be pushing a TT sidecar over 14 miles of mountain road to raise money for the TT Marshal’s Association and the Joey Dunlop Foundation. The Sure Sidecar Push begins at 10am at the Sure Store in Ramsey finishing at the Sure Store in Douglas. Members of the Marshal’s Association will also be using both Sure Stores as venues for the recruitment drive for TT Marshals.

Terry Holmes, the TT Marshal’s Association Ltd chairman, said: “The TT practices and races can not go ahead without an enormous number of marshals to support the event; the absolute strategically placed minimum being 508. We are actively trying to encourage more Island based volunteers and those in the UK, Europe and the rest of the world to take part and to sign on as a marshal. The Sure Sidecar Push will be great fun and will hopefully raise some money for us; the extra cash will be most welcome during our effort to continue our promotion of the TT races and the Isle of Man.”

The 14 miles between the two stores have been split into seven two-mile legs, and teams from different organisations, including the two beneficiaries, Ramsey Rugby Club and Sure staff themselves will all take it in turns to push the sidecar which weighs 150 kilograms.

The Joey Dunlop Foundation Trustee Bruce Baker said: “We are building accommodation at Braddan Bridge House for people with disabilities. When completed, it will be available all year round for all visitors needing specialist facilities and will really open up the Isle of Man to them. The first year will be crucial, and funds from the sidecar push will help the facility run during that time.”

Mike Stanton, Sure Country Manager, said: “We are established sponsors of the TT Sidecar, and wanted to do something to show that we are really committed to supporting the event, which brings so much excitement to the community.

“As well as rolling up our sleeves and pushing for some of the way, we hope that making the Sure Stores venues for TT marshal recruitment will make it easier for islanders to come forward and sign up.”