Epic fundraisers aim to paddle 86km from Glasgow to Edinburgh for RNLI

Paul and Anna will begin their challenge on Monday 20 June and hope to complete the 86km jaunt in just four days, paddling from Glasgow to Edinburgh. The activity is part of a wider challenge that began in January 2022 where they paddled the Crinan Canal in Argyll.

The pair will finish their challenge this Autumn as they aim to paddle 96km of the Caledonian Canal – totalling an incredible 198km across the year of 2022.

Paul, one of the fundraisers, said: ‘I turned 40 in 2021 and having taken part in various charity walking events, I wanted to do something a bit different to challenge myself in 2022. In the past I have done a bit of kayaking and canoeing but recently I got into packrafting and having lived on the Clyde canal in the past, I thought ‘Why not try packrafting all the navigable canals in Scotland this year’.

‘Obviously, it’s not a sensible idea to do these things alone so I enlisted the help of my friend, Anna, who is also a water sports enthusiast, to accompany me on the adventure with my wife, Claire, and Anna’s boyfriend, Ali, providing us with logistical support.’

When asked why he decided to raise money for the RNLI through his challenge, Paul explained: ‘In 2019 I joined HM Coastguard as a Coastguard Rescue Officer (CRO) with the Melvich Coastguard Team. I had a bit of an understanding of how important the lifeboats are through the show, Saving Lives at Sea, but having now been out on callouts with the Thurso and Wick lifeboats and seeing first hand just how vital the boats and crew are to saving lives at sea, I wanted to try and help keep that service going by fundraising for the RNLI.’

This leg of the route will see them paddling the Glasgow to Edinburgh Canoe trail, which is 86km long, from Port Dundas in Glasgow along the Forth-Clyde canal as far as the Falkirk Wheel where they will transfer to the Union Canal; and paddle all the way to Edinburgh Quay.

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its recue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 142,700 lives.

To support Paul and Anna on their journey, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/between-memory-and-water

ENDS

RNLI media contacts

Claire Thomson, RNLI Media Engagement Placement Scotland, 07929673286, [email protected]

Natasha Bennett, RNLI Regional Media Officer for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected]

Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Media Manager for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.

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