Enthusiasts to paddle all the way to Wales!
Staff from the county council's Longtown Outdoor Education Centre have embarked on a 150-mile challenge that will see them canoeing from Northampton to Wales in seven days.
The group will paddle across England's inland waterways to raise money for Northampton Hope Centre, formerly the Northampton Soup Kitchen.
The outdoor enthusiasts donned their wet suits and braved snow flurries and cold weather as they set off for their epic challenge yesterday.
The trip comes 12 months after canoeists from Longtown, run by Northamptonshire County Council, took part in a shorter charity paddle from Herefordshire to Northampton.
It was on this journey that the head of the outdoor centre, Mike Fawcett, decided to raise money for Northampton Hope Centre after finding men sleeping rough under a bridge in severe weather conditions.
Mr Fawcett said: "We were paddling along the Grand Union Canal and came across some people sleeping rough under the canal bridge.
"It reminded us that there are people in Northamptonshire sleeping rough.
"It soon became clear that we could raise money for a worthwhile cause."
The team includes operations manager Lee Cave, of Rushden, trainee instructor Tom Sharpe, of Kingsthorpe, Northampton, and fundraiser Laurianne Mackenzie of Cogenhoe.
Mr Fawcett said the team had been well prepared for tough conditions. He added: "We will have to look out for each other on the River Avon as it is hazardous there."
The quest will see the team canoeing on the Grand Union Canal, River Avon, River Severn and Severn Estuary to reach their goal in Wales, amid predictions of yet another blast of snow this week.
On a visit to the charity Mr Fawcett discovered that two of the Hope Centre's clients were ex-servicemen.
Hope Centre spokeswoman Debbie Galton said the charity had seen an intake of ex-servicemen and women who were struggling to cope with the return to civilian life.
She said: "I think the causes for homelessness and social exclusion among ex-servicemen or women are the same as among any other group in society: mental health problems, childhood troubles, poverty, divorce, addiction and, increasingly, debt-related problems.
"But the transition from military to civilian life can trigger problems."
The team will aim to raise as much money as possible for the Hope Centre. To make a donation visit http://www.justgiving.com/n2w.
laura.corcoran@northantsnews.co.uk
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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