The St Bees Soap Box Derby has started 2025 off by announcing it has raised £2250 for three charities.

The Soap Box Derby returned in 2024 after almost forty years when organisers Claire and Stephen Shackley, Nathan Lord, Charles Bagshaw and Lee Shackley along with sponsor C. Sharpe Roofing reviving the event.

Returning for its second running on Saturday, December 28, around 40 entries entered on the day with marshalls manning the street and seven stops.

The coastal village came to life with the pubs full of jovial customers with the staff working non stop but helping to maintain the electric atmosphere around the event.

With the main street lined with spectators and trophies, purchased by C. Sharpe Roofing, to be won there was plenty of entertainment as The Inbetweeners
claimed the U18s Trophy, The 3 Amigos took the Race Winners and The Wizard of Oz won the Best Fancy Dress.

Also running were Cops and Robbers, Running Dead, Cowboy Cart and The RNLI among many others.

There was also a raffle and with over seventy prizes, they were unable to be transport and stored in the Queens Hotel on the day, that a live raffle on social media the following day was arranged.

The event raised just over £2000 and sponsor C. Sharpe Roofing topped it up to £2250 so each cause will receive £750 each.

All three charities have connections to St Bees with St Bees RNLI, Hospice at Home West Cumbria and Amelia McAvoy chosen for this year.

Four year old Amelia has CDKL5, a rare genetic disorder affecting approximately only 1500 people in the world and is characterised by seizures and developmental issues.

Amelia’s parents say that seizures are just their daily norm that they can’t over react to which can be hard as when they’re out and about and causes people to stare as they just don’t understand.