On the 22nd of November 2025, University of Bristol Canoe Club members, alumni and friends gathered from far and wide to celebrate the memory of Jon Fitzsimmons at our annual fundraiser – “Get F*cked for Fitz”. Jon was a club alumnus who tragically passed away while kayaking in the Alps, but a lively and brilliant individual whose memory lives on in the club. It marked 22 years of fundraising in his name, and what a night it was at Zero Degrees in Bristol. A night full of laughter, excitement, and many people who love to kayak.
The excitement began before the event started. Ticket and raffle ticket sales were ramping up, and we had raised £1,133 before the night even began. Ticket sales kept going up as familiar faces arrived at the venue. It was wonderful to see everyone in their best suits and dresses, all come together for a wonderful cause.
The first major part of the night was a speech given by Tia about why we hold the fundraiser and the importance of safety when partaking in the sport. At the end of her speech, she was given a new captain’s hat to wear for the rest of the night. It was out of this world! Then came the main event: The Raffle! The spread of prizes was phenomenal, thanks to the hard work of the social secretaries, who emailed company after company, and the club captain, who spent an afternoon gallivanting through Bristol, charming the friendly local businesses into donating prizes. This resulted in prizes ranging from buoyancy aids and Pyranha sponges to stickers and waterproof jackets, with some worth over £100! Everyone cheered when prizes were announced, alongside the occasional chants of “Rigged!” when the big spenders won again. Drinks were flowing, and everyone was having a great time, being reunited with old friends and making new ones.
When the night came to an end, the committee were thrilled to find out the total amount raised across the event was £2778.50! This was a new club record! The money raised is used year upon year to pay for club members to receive Safety and First Aid Training, to improve safety equipment, and to make a donation to charity. This meant a donation of £533.55 to Mountain Rescue, a First Aid Course for 16 club members, and White Water Safety and Rescue Courses for the next generation of club paddlers.
Overall, the night was a great success, and I’m sure everyone is already looking forward to the next one!