Kentish Express Ashford & District
Angling marathon in Abbie’s memory
Fundraising fishermen survived a four-day fishing challenge in Bethersden and said the whole thing went swimmingly.
Craig Lowery, 31, Tyrone Lowery, 39, and Mark Johnson, 26, braved the recent downpours for a sponsored camping and carp fishing event at Lovelace Fisheries.
The rods had to be in the water at all times, which meant each fisherman had to get up every time his equipment beeped, so they barely slept.
But the real catch was the trio couldn’t spend any money.
The slept in donated tents, caught freshwater carp with donated equipment and survived only on donated food from friends, family and co-workers.
The team have raised more than £250 for children’s brain cancer charity Abbie’s Army, but organiser Craig said they were also keen to raise awareness.
He said: “September is childhood cancer month and we wanted to do something to get people talking about such an important issue.
“We really want to raise awareness about deadly diseases like Abbie’s and we want to raise the profile of the charity that is trying to do something about it.”
Abbie’s Army was set up after six-year-old Abbie Mifsud, f rom Ashford, died of an i noperable and i ncurable form of brain cancer in 2011.
Since t hen, her parents Amanda Walker and Ray Mifsud have tirelessly campaigned and raised money to fund research into treating childhood cancers.
To donate as much money as possible, the Army of Anglers survived for four days, entirely free.
Craig added: “We literally haven’t spent a penny. Everything’s been donated, from the fishing rods and bait to the sleeping bags we’re using and food we’re eating.”
Not that any of the fisherman knew what they were eating.
Friends and f amily who donated tins or packets of food had peeled the labels off all the tins so every meal was a surprise.
Craig said: “I had a surprise breakfast of pineapple chunks on the first day and I’m sure one of the identified tins looked like dog food. We never found out if it was though.”
Craig and Mark work for Dunlop BTL - the company belonging to Abbie’s dad Ray - who supported the team’s challenge.
There’s still time to support the challenge and donate at www. justgiving.com/craig-lowery.
To watch the fisherman in KMTV’s video, visit www. kentonline.co.uk/kmtv