Major Mick raises £22K as he nears the half-way mark
A former army major has raised more than £20,000 by rowing up and down Chichester canal in a homemade boat — and he’s only half finished.
Mick Stanley, 80, from West Wittering, set off from Hunston in his vessel the ‘Tintanic’ at the end of September with the aim of rowing 100 miles to raise money for St Wilfrids Hospice.
The former Royal Scots Dragoon Guard said: “It’s going really well and I’m really enjoying it — I’m coming up to half way now, I’m up to 50 miles.”
Mick is now recognised by people strolling along the canal with many making donations.
So much so, Mick has crafted a net with which to collect donations from the
canal bank.
“When I’m going down the canal I can talk to anybody, children old and young who are really interested and happy to talk — I’ve always liked talking to people.”
Mickthankedall the people who had made donations.
“It’s fantastic,” he said, “it’s amazing and I am thrilled for the hospice because they need all the help they can get at the moment.
“It is wonderful that people have been so generous, I’m
staggered at the amount that has been raised already because I had orginially set a target of £1,000 but it seems to have taken off.
“I would also like to thank Chichester Canal Trust for their looking after me and looking after the canal by cutting all the vegatation back.
“It’s a very special part of West Sussex.”
Read more about Mick’s efforts by visiting www. chichester.co.uk