A group of 10 Midlands businessmen are embarking on a 60-mile canoeing expedition in a bid to raise £25,000 for a Stoke-on-Trent hospice that supports people with life-limiting illnesses.
The team are aiming to complete the epic charity challenge for the Dougie Mac by crossing the waterways of the Scottish Highlands in just 72 hours.
Traditionally, fundraisers complete the Great Glen Canoe Trail in five days. But to further add to the difficulty, the amateur canoeists are also aiming to attempt the route in reverse, paddling against the wind from Inverness to Fort William.
The team, who are now hard in training, will be led by Gareth Higgins, Director of Newcastle-under-Lyme metal manufacturing experts KMF.
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, are all joining Gareth on what is being dubbed the “KMF Great Glen Canoe Trail Challenge”.
Embarking on the gruelling trial on 18 September, the group will also be tasked with being fully self-sufficient for the duration of the event.
This includes wild camping and carrying fully laden canoes with barrels of kit and equipment in between the bodies of water and around locks. They will sometimes be trekking with their loads for up to a mile at a time.
Gareth said: “I’m passionate about supporting the Dougie Mac and it’s fantastic to challenge myself both personally but also as part of our team.
“This is going to be no mean feat. It’s going to be physically and mentally tough. Add in the heavy load we’ll be carrying between lochs and the uncomfortable nights wild camping on the water’s edge, we’ll all be pushed to our limits.
“I’m constantly inspired by the work of the Dougie Mac and have taken part in a number of tough challenges to raise vital funds for the hospice, this one won’t be easy but it’s especially worth it to support our local hospice that we are so lucky to have on our doorstep.”
The route will see the group canoe through and walk between Loch Ness, of which they’re canoeing the entire length, and lochs Lochy, Oich and Dochfour. All these bodies of water are linked by Rivers Oich, Ness and Lochy.
The fundraisers are all of varying fitness levels and have a range of experience on water; some having never even sat in a canoe before.
First-time canoeist, Paul Hawkins, Co-Owner at Plinkfizz, said: “I really wanted to join this challenge with Gareth and the team to push myself while raising money for a charity which everyone knows and admires locally.
“I’ve never stepped foot in a canoe, so this is an incredibly difficult challenge for me but I’m in training and determined to do my part.”
To sponsor the team, click here.
