Magnificent seven aim to notch up a kayaking first
SEVEN kayakers will each paddle 50 miles around Loch Ness is less than a day to raise money for the MS Therapy Centre in Oban.
The RNLI told the team this is the first time Scotland’s iconic loch has been circumnavigated by kayak in under 24 hours.
The challenge starts on July 2, and the kayakers are hoping to raise £6,000 to buy state- of-the-art equipment to help MS patients, of whom there are 200 in Oban alone.
Helen Forteith, director of Oban’s MS Therapy Centre, said: ‘I’m delighted to be taking part in this challenge along with my husband John Forteith. Our son was diagnosed with MS aged 16, and this equipment will help MS patients build their arm and leg muscles regardless of how disabled they had become.’
John, who last year raised £6,500 for the centre by riding his motorbike 6,500 miles across 14 countries, added: ‘In the Oban area there are reported to be over 200 MS sufferers. The equipment will also be used by the local general hospital to treat severely physically affected patients suffering from a variant of conditions, not just MS.’
Loch Ness is 23 miles long, 900ft deep and contains more water than all the lakes in England and Wales combined. The challenge is expected to take at least 12 to 14 hours of non-stop paddling, and, if the weather is against them, it could take up to 16 hours. ‘We’re going to have arms like Popeye,’ John said.
They will have the local Coastguard and RNLI on hand should they encounter any monster-like creatures on their way. For fuel, local businesses have donated tablet and ginger biscuits baked to combat sea-sickness. ‘ We’re not going to go hungry,’ John added. ‘ We’ll probably have gout.’
The team have raised £ 3,000 to date and are looking for people to get behind them and help them reach their £6,000 target. The team have a mydonate page, with a link via their Facebook page 504-ms Loch Ness Challenge.