By Pam McClounie

Published at 10:48, Saturday, 08 September 2012

WHEN the Africa Express train rolled into Carlisle one quick thinking teenager took advantage of the presence of the music celebrities to get them to sign her petition.

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Charlie Stealson, 17, and her friends are trying to organise a Skate Jam Festival in the city next year. She said: “We want to make this event a success but we need to be taken seriously.

“We are trying to raise support for an event that would encompass music, DJs, ski-ing, snowboarding, BMX and skating.”

After Wednesday’s musical performance by Blur frontman Damon Albarn and a host of African musicians, Charlie approached Jon McClure from Reverend and the Makers and asked him to sign her petition.

She said: “I told him what it was about and he signed it. It’s the first celebrity I’ve got on the petition.”

Jon was overheard telling Charlie that he was originally from Workington.

The event would be held on a weekend – maybe in July 2013 – at venues including the city skate park and the dry ski slope at Edenside.

Charlie, a pupil at the Richard Rose Central Academy, said: “A lot of people do snow sports in Carlisle but it’s never really been taken seriously. I want to rally support and am being spurred on to do so.”

Surf and skate shop S4 on Lonsdale Street is backing the idea.

Charlie, of Fusehill Street, said: “I need about 10,000 signatures before I can hand it over to the city council and at the moment I’ve got about 100 so there’s a long way to go.

Charlie said she took up snowboarding about four years ago and is lucky because her aunt lives in Switzerland so she gets plenty of practice.

Others helping to get the skate jam event off the ground are Connor Spence, 19, Jamie Henry, 20 and Nina Weiner, 18.

PMcClounie@cngroup.co.uk

Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk