Taunton fundraiser to kayak 1,600 miles to Helsinki for Alzheimers charity (From Somerset County Gazette)
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Taunton fundraiser to kayak 1,600 miles to Helsinki for Alzheimers charity
9:00pm Tuesday 26th June 2012 in News
By Daniel Milligan
Mark Waddoups, Alice Lawson and Erin Dunn in training for their kayak trip
A FUNDRAISER from Taunton is travelling from Dover to Helsinki in a sea kayak to boost funds for Alzheimer's Research UK in memory of his grandma.
Mark Waddoups will be joined by university friends Alice Lawson and Erin Dunn for the 1,600 mile journey when they set off between July 2 and 6 dependant on weather conditions.
The 20-year-old will start his journey by crossing the British Channel to France. From there they will follow the European coast to the North Sea before joining the Kiel Canal through Germany.
The route will take them onto the coast of Denmark and Sweden before finally arriving in Helsinki in September.
The former Taunton School student said: “I only took up kayaking this year and I want to take the chance to do something extraordinary and see the world while I've got some time.
“I'm using the opportunity to raise much needed money for research into Alzheimer's disease as a tribute to my grandma.
If you want to sponsor Mark on the challenge, visit his donation website www.justgiving.com/paddlingchallengealz