A GROUP of six colleagues have set themselves the gruelling task of kayaking 100km along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal to raise money for a cancer charity.

Paul Harrison, Mokbul Ali, Chris Bolton, Jess Mattimore, Martin Clapham, and Dominic Bell all work within the cancer information and support team based at Macmillan’s offices in Shipley.

The team have admitted they are novices on the water, but say they are taking on the 62-mile challenge “because we work for the charity and we’re mad!”

Mr Harrison said: “We all work on the Macmillan Support Line answering calls from people affected by cancer, so we know first-hand how devastating a cancer diagnosis can be.

“We decided we wanted to try and raise some money by taking on this mammoth task.

“Between us, we have little experience when it comes to kayaking.

“Some of us have never even sat in one before!

“So to take on such a physically demanding task is not going to be easy.

“However, it is something that we are all very keen to do and, hopefully, we can raise some much needed funds and awareness in the process.”

The service the team provides is available to anyone who calls the Macmillan Support Line on 0808 808 0000, and is staffed by a specialist team, who offer a wealth of information as well as providing a supportive space to talk.

They may be able to provide all the information and support that someone needs, or they may transfer them to one of the additional Macmillan Support Line services.

Local Macmillan fundraising manager, Adele Hopkins, said: “We are so grateful to Paul and the rest of the team for choosing to support us by organising this event.

“Please give them a wave of encouragement if you see them!

“They know all too well with working as part of the Macmillan team based in Shipley, cancer is the toughest fight most of us will ever face.

“We rely on our fantastic fundraisers for 99 per cent of our income every year.

“Events like this are so important to us.

“Every penny raised will help us to be there for people when they need us most.”

The team, who have all been in training prior to the event, will kayak from their offices in Shipley to Skipton Castle and back today, before heading from Shipley down to where the canal begins in Leeds and back tomorrow.

They would like to say a special thank you to staff from Robin Hood Watersports in Heckmondwike, who have donated the kayaks to be used in the challenge free of charge.

For more information and to support the group’s fundraising efforts, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Paul-Harrison47.