A quartet of amateur canoeists have rowed all the way from Ickleford to the Norfolk coast to raise more than £5,000 in memory of a friend who died from leukaemia.
Neil Norman, Phil Parker, Frank Gollogly and Adrian Le Roux rowed to the Wash in memory of their friend Simon Kelly – the original singer with seminal Hitchin punk band the Bleach Boys – over five days.
And they smashed their initial target of £1,000, raising more than five times that for Bloodwise, a charity that helps fund research into blood cancers like leukaemia and lymphoma.
“The whole trip was very arduous, but also a really satisfying achievement for four non-experienced canoeists,” said Frank.
“The upper reaches on the River Hiz and River Ivel were quite challenging, with sections almost completely overgrown, while the lower sections on the Great Ouse provided some beautiful scenery and close encounters with the wildlife.
“We would like to thank everyone who has kindly donated, as well as all our families and friends who supported us throughout the trip.
“A special thank you goes to our Hitchin friends Colin and Sue Southward for the loan of canoes, equipment, maps and some great advice.
“We would recommend this trip to anyone who is up for a challenge. It has been a truly great adventure, made even more worthwhile by doing it for such an important cause.”
The quartet set out from Lower Green and rowed along the River Hiz, then up the Ivel and the Great Ouse to the Wash.
The final total paid to Bloodwise was £5,125.33, including Gift Aid. For more see bloodwise.org.uk.
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