And a few of the obstacles on route........................
A CHARITY ADVENTURE TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THE MAGNIFICENT MACMILLAN NURSES SCHEME and the MACMILLAN CANCER SUPPORT Charity.
Five fearless adventurers will soon be sailing below the immortalised `bridge over troubled waters`, when they commence their `CROSS SCOTLAND BY BOAT (and back!)EXPEDITION` from Inverness Docks, on Monday,June 2nd, 2008.
Following what they hope will be a south-westerly bearing, the five ancient mariners (collective physical age 289 years....collective mental age,35) will be setting off on their second significant adventure in recent years in aid of charity, having previously walked across England along Hadrians Wall,dressed as Roman Gladiators and accompanied by a goat.
Their chartered vessel the `Yes Yes Geraldine`, should take seven days to navigate the hazardous waterways on the 200 mile round trip between Inverness and Fort William, although Skipper Nick Eaves, World Seniors No 7 racing yachtsman and current Vice-Commodore at the blue-chip Bartley Green Sailing Club, Birmingham, is not so sure.
"The boat`s nothing but a high-tech gin-palace compared to the square riggers I usually sail the Atlantic in. Trouble is the crew. Not one of `em knows the bow from the stern, and they all keep asking me `will the thing wobble` ?"
Below:SKIPPER NICK EAVES (right) SEARCHES FOR THE OPEN SEAS WITH ORGANISER ASH JAMES (We were right to worry)
Ash James from Stourbridge explained that the sailing was only part of the challenge.
"These men are tough. My colleague Lord Haves from Wokingham has only recently finished a marathon Waitrose shop that took four days, and Derby-based Mike Mason ( MP for Gussett and the Borders) has climbed many mountains in his time in Marketing. So their task in addition to the boating exercise, will also be to climb two `Ben`s,cycle 100 miles, and swim with Nessie"
The expedition is the brain-child of crew member Dave Stevens, from Okker Hill in The Black Country.A former punk-drummer and Head Of Technology at a Black Country High School(roles which he effortlessly interchanged) he explained that there was serious intent behind the challenge.
"We are doing this to raise awareness and money for Macmillan Cancer Support.So many families are afflicted in one way or another by Cancer, and the caring and supportive role that their nurses play, often during the most difficult stages of this illnes,is both wonderful and critical.More of them are needed, and we are doing this to try, in our own small way, to help."
Below:CREW MEMBER LORD HAVES OF WOKINGHAM,PHOTOGRAPHED ENJOYING AN INTROSPECTIVE MOMENT ON A PREVIOUS ADVENTURE
Below:A MORE SOMBRE MOMENT DURING A TRAINING SESSION AS MP MIKE MASON (left of centre) CONSIDERS HIS POSITION (and his fellow crew-mates)
Below:THE ONLY KNOWN PICTURE OF CREWMAN, DAVE STEVENS, TAKEN AT WEST BROMWICH BATHS, 1955.
Below: "THE YES,YES,GERALDINE*
The group hope to collect upward of £2000 as a result of the expedition, to add to the £14000 raised for other charities by their various unorthodox activities, over the last two and a half years.
Below:THE ROUTE. They must be mad.......................................
DONATIONS
Anyone wishing to donate may do so by sending a cheque (made payable to MACMILLAN CANCER SUPPORT), or by offering to Sponsor the Crew (for a particular total upon completion of the challenges. Every amount will be acknowledged, and the final total raised will be published on this web-site by JULY 30TH,2008.
Cheques:Address to... `Cross Scotland By Boat Expedition`,Fulford House, 6 Harborough Walk, DY9 0YN.(Please make payable to MACMILLAN CANCER SUPPORT)
Crew Sponsorship: Please email Ash James or David Haves at georgetortoise@fsmail.net with your sponsorship promise (and for further details).
Or via the `JUST GIVING WEB-LINK` which can be accessed via clicking on the below;
COMPANY DONATIONS
Donations from businesses and organisations are obviously welcomed. EoN have kindly already involved themselves with us, and we would like other partners to help us achieve a significant total. We shall obviously do our best to promote the corporate citizenship of those who do give their support, both in advance, en route, and subsequent to the event. Should you be interested to help in this way, or should you know of those who may like to become involved, please use any of the contacts above, or telephone Ash James @ 078806 92657.
