A group of 10 Midlands-based businessmen have handed over a £50,000 cheque to the Dougie Mac hospice after taking on a gruelling canoe challenge in Scotland.
They completed the 60-mile Great Glen Canoe Trail, from Fort William to Inverness, in just three days, navigating three lochs and connecting rivers. In the process they smashed through their original fundraising target of £25,000.
The money they’ve raised will benefit palliative care patients who receive care and treatment at the Stoke-on-Trent-based hospice, which is totally funded by donations.
The event was organised by KMF Managing Director Gareth Higgins.
He was joined by Paul Hawkins, Plinkfizz; Paul Franklin, HSBC; Paul Staley, Wise Living; Terry Stanway, KMF; Tom Higgins, Bentley Motors; Mitch and Rod Brown, Brown Recycling; Mark Inskip, RBC Brewin Dolphin; Nathan Walton, TeDaisy and Andy Whitehouse.
The novice canoeists faced constant wet and windy conditions during their long stints on the water, paddling into driving rain and strong headwinds and overnight they wild camped.
Dougie Mac’s Senior Business and Community Fundraiser at Dougie Mac, Angie Dawson, said: “The money raised from this event will cover the cost of six patients staying on our inpatient unit for two weeks. We provide each patient with the individual care needed to promote and maintain the best quality of life possible, for as long as possible.”
Deborah Vickers, Head of Business and Community Fundraising at Dougie Mac, said: “We’re continually amazed by the extreme lengths our supporters will go to raise money for the hospice and this team of rowers is no exception.
Gareth said: “As a group, we’ve each been touched by Dougie Mac in some way or another. We are extremely proud, of course, at doubling our fundraising target and we fully intend to continue supporting the Dougie Mac as they introduce an expanding and diverse range of support across North Staffordshire.”
