Canoe marathon to start in Welshpool

A man's gruelling 154-mile charity challenge to canoe the River Severn will be launched from Welshpool in May.

 

Richard Edwards, 34, will be take on the tough adventure over five days in a 19-foot Canadian canoe which is normally paddled by two people!

 

“I wanted it to be as hard as possible,” said Richard who will be raising money for Stroke Association and a number of stroke support groups local to his Sharpness home. “If you are asking people for money, they want to know you’re working hard for it. The struggle that faces people, and their families, after they’ve had a stroke is such a horribly difficult journey for them, and what I’m doing isn’t in the same ball park, but I wanted to do something that’s a challenge.”

 

Richard’s journey starts in Welshpool on May 29. En route he will have to leave the river at Gloucester where it becomes tidal, and from there he will join the canal and paddle down to Sharpness, Gloucestershire.