Two pals from Plymouth are planning to paddle more than 100 miles in kayaks to raise awareness about mental health and autism.
Gareth Thomas, 40, who lives in Mainstone and 39-year-old Ben Partrick from Lipson, will set off from Mount Wise on May 18 and kayak along the Cornish coast arriving in Penzance a week later.
Gareth, who is a chartered surveyor with Balfour Beatty, and Ben, who works as a gas technician for Wales & West Utilities, have known each other for over 30 years. They were both born and grew up in Cornwall, but are now settled in Plymouth.
Their challenge was developed after a year of sea kayaking, including 18 miles on New Year’s Eve.
Gareth said:
“We both like to take on physical challenges while raising money for good causes. It started with the Eden Project marathon in 2016 and has got increasingly more challenging.
“Last year we took part in St Luke’s Hospice ‘Tour de Moor’ which involved 70 kilometres of off road cycling and we followed that with the Holy Grit 24 kilometres beach obstacle event in Cornwall.
“We both feel lucky to be able to take on physical challenges and enjoy the training and planning that is required. It’s also important to both of us to give back to society by raising money for our chosen charities.”
The pair hope to raise at least £1,000 for Plymouth and District Mind and the National Autistic Society and they have already raised nearly £800.
Gareth said:
“Mental health doesn’t only affect the individual with the illness it also impacts the lives of everyone around them.
“I know this first hand as in 2008 my older brother went missing after suffering mental health related issues. He has never been found and joins the 180,000 people in the UK who are reported missing each year.
“Supporting people with mental health issues early helps to treat the illness and prevent a spiral effect of depression and disconnect from society. It’s charities like ‘Mind For Better Health’ that help to support and prevent people effected by mental health.”
Ben said that he had been involved in the care of a boy with autism for the last 12 years and had seen how challenging life could be for him. “There have been some amazing people helping him along the way. The care and education he gets at secondary school is second to none and none of that would be possible without the National Autistic Society.”
For more information or to donate to the challenge go to https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/SeaKayakChallenge
