Inverness team ready to canoe 70 miles for Highland Hospice
AN Inverness superstore deputy manager will soon be swapping the aisles for the Great Glen waterway when he takes part in a major fundraiser for the Highland Hospice.
David Philips (35), who works at Inverness Asda, and friend Lisa Stuart (34) an electrician, have been hitting the gym to get as fit as possible for when they join Francesca Marchetti, fundraising administrator at Highland Hospice and Malcolm Wield from Highland Canoe Experience in this year’s Great Glen Canoe Challenge.
Participants will Canadian canoe the 70 miles from Fort William to Inverness in a five-day coast-to-coast challenge which involves wild camping for four nights in the open air, using only what they bring to cook, eat and sleep.
Mr Philips said: “Lisa and I have never done anything like this before, but there will be safety people coming along to make sure all goes to plan.
“We each have to raise £1000 and Lisa and I are just short of £2000 at the moment. I’m quite fortunate because Asda have a top-up scheme for charity fundraisers like this, and it’s all to help the Highland Hospice and the fantastic work they do.”
Ms Stuart said: “I have never been in a boat before apart from the pond at Whin Park!
“But I’m told that paddling is not too strenuous – more mentally draining.” Ms Marchetti is also pretty “green” when it comes to boats and admits to “never being in a tent in her life”.
They left Fort William on Friday and are hoping to return to the fisherman’s car park on the River Ness in Inverness before noon on tomorrow.
