World-record holders Simon Johns and James Coquelin will set off from Fort William on 17 September and attempt to reach Inverness along the Caledonian Canal in one go, navigating the waterway’s locks as they cross the country.
Along the route they will face 13 points where they must take their boat out of the water, carry it around the locks and find a safe spot to re-enter. Among the toughest sections are Neptune’s Staircase, a flight of eight consecutive locks, and Fort Augustus. The coast-to-coast route also includes a 22-mile row across Loch Ness, with the shortest stretch just half a mile across Loch Oich.
The pair will travel to Scotland on 15 September to scout the route by car, identifying safe entry and exit points, before beginning the challenge two days later. A support vehicle will follow their progress by road and be on hand in an emergency. Conditions in the Great Glen, through which the canal runs, can change rapidly, adding another unpredictable element to an already demanding challenge.
The cause is a personal one, with both men having been affected by cancer.
‘We know where this challenge starts and where it ends. Everything in between is genuinely unknown,’ said Mr Johns.
‘While what we’re taking on cannot compare with the reality of facing cancer, that uncertainty has made us think about the people we’re raising money for. A cancer diagnosis brings so many uncertainties, which is why having the right specialist support matters so much.’
The £60,000 target will go towards the cost of a specialist cancer nurse on the island, helping men affected by cancer in Guernsey access the care and treatment they need.
It forms part of Male Uprising Guernsey’s Nurses Bursary, a rolling five-year funding commitment under which the charity is underwriting £6,000 a year to support the training and professional development of local cancer nurses.
Mug said the bursary helped cover advanced treatment training, specialist study days and conferences, removing the financial barrier that can stop nurses going off-island for oncology training, with the benefits brought back to patients at the Bulstrode Oncology Unit.
The challenge, named the Mug Monster Row, is headline-sponsored by Praxis, the professional services firm where Mr Johns is group head of finance. Local businesses can also sponsor one of the 13 lock stages for £2,000, with Ravenscroft Capital, Infinity Construction Lince Salisbury, Upgrade Fitness and Healthspan already among the backers.
Members of the public can donate through the pair’s JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/mugmonsterrow
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