Suzuki GB’s Marine Division is proud to announce professional saltwater angler and serving firefighter, Will Parkinson, as its newest brand ambassador.
Will has spent 17 years serving in the UK Fire Service, where he also uses his passion for fishing to raise awareness and funds for The Fire Fighters Charity.
Support for the fire family
The Charity supports the mental health, physical health and social welfare of all serving and retired fire and rescue personnel in the UK, as well as their families, both in person at three residential centres around the country and remotely through online support. Whether it’s work-related stress, a change in family dynamics or just the long-term wear and tear on their bodies, all members of the UK’s fire family are eligible for support from the Charity.
The mental health benefits of the ‘blue gym’
Will himself has benefited from the Charity’s help, having received psychological support when major surgery led him to experiencing tough times with his own mental health. Now he uses his awareness of mental health and passion for the sea to give something back to the Charity that, he says, saved his life.
As well as his duties in the fire service, Will runs two Suzuki-powered boats to take part in boat fishing competitions around the UK, raising money and awareness for the Charity along the way. He also takes fellow firefighters out with him, either to fish, or just to experience the healing properties of being on the water, sometimes referred to as part of a ‘blue gym’.
Suzuki’s newest ambassador
Will’s first boat is a 17ft Dell Quay Dory powered by a Suzuki DF90A, and the latest addition to the family is a 25ft self-commissioned Smart Fish 25 powered by one of Suzuki’s new DF300B dual-propeller outboards.
“I am lucky enough to represent some key marine and fishing brands from Suzuki, with its awesome outboards through to Shoxs shock mitigation seats as well as Navionics and Raymarine electronics,” says Will. “I am very grateful to the guys at Suzuki who have provided us with the perfect outboards for fishing. They are high-performing yet incredibly quiet and fuel-efficient.”
Mark Beeley, Suzuki GB’s Head of Marine & ATV, said, “We are really excited to be working with Will and to be helping him with his charitable work. Sea angling is a past-time enjoyed by many and we are passionate about being on the water, so it was a natural fit. There are even plans afoot for a Suzuki fishing team, so watch this space!”
Louise Furneaux, Community Corporate and Events Fundraiser for The Fire Fighters Charity, said “We are so delighted and excited to support Will in his ambassadorship. He is an inspiration to us all, turning what was such a challenging part of his life into something so positive, both for himself and his fellow firefighters. We are very much looking forward to working with Will and Suzuki to explore how we can work together to raise much-needed funds that will all go towards supporting those people who are working to keep us safe, especially during this year that has seen the pandemic impact so significantly on our fundraising.”
Tackling Smart Fishing
In addition to his charitable work, Will has also started the Smart Fishing UK venture, which is a social media channel aimed at bringing viewers along for the ride, documenting competitions and providing insight into how he and his team fish.
It also provides tutorials and various tips and tricks to help the growing audience improve their fishing. These can be anything from a casual video about making tackle and lures, or talks with professionals from the industry, to professional step-by-step tutorials on how to get the best out of marine electronics.
“My passion for fishing started when I was four years old, catching my first freshwater fish in a local river with my dad,” says Will. “I was instantly hooked. I fished freshwater until I was 12, when I made the change to saltwater angling from the shore. Now I consider myself to be a professional saltwater predator angler and specialise in Sea Bass fishing along the south coasts of the UK.”
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