WORCESTER job finders James Cronin and Mike Pincott will paddle the length of the River Severn in a kayak to raise £7,000 for New Hope.
As part of the 777 challenge, the GMP Recruitment pair will travel the 220-mile length of the River Severn over seven days to raise £7,000.
They aim to raise the money for charity New Hope, which provides specialist day care for children with disabilities and complex healthcare needs.
The pair, who are training round the clock to prepare for the event in September, will begin the challenge at the river’s origin in the Welsh mountains and travel through the Shropshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire countryside down to the Severn estuary in Bristol.
James said: “We are complete novices so we’re training hard, but also making sure we are fully aware of the safety precautions as the River Severn is notoriously treacherous.
“It’s going to be an exhausting seven days but it’s all to raise money for such a great and inspiring cause. Once we have some more river training under our belts, we’ll be ready to go.”
New Hope is especially close the Mike’s heart as his three-year-old daughter Ava lives with Angelman Syndrome – a genetic disorder which causes delayed development, problems with speech, balance and seizures.
Mike added: “New Hope is quite simply an amazing charity which helps so many children and their families to cope. Doing our kayak challenge for them makes it extra special.
“The tandem kayak challenge is certainly going to be interesting for two people who have never kayaked until now, so we’re massively out of our comfort zone.
“However, our training is going well and we’re determined to get through the seven days and have a big celebration when we reach Bristol.”
As part of the fund-raising, businesses can also sponsor James and Mike by advertising on the kayak, paddles and even their shirts.
Readers looking to donate or businesses who want to become a sponsor can visit the team’s Just Giving page through www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/7sevensevern or e-mail mike.pincott@gmp recruitment.co.uk
The kayak challenge follows another charity event last year when James, Mike and colleague Charlotte Harkin took on the Three Peaks Challenge and raised £10,000 for New Hope.
