Kayak pair in Irish Sea trip to make splash for cancer victims

Published on Monday 4 August 2008 10:56

TWO intrepid amateur sailors are set to brave the waves of the Irish Sea next week in a bid to raise money for young people afflicted by cancer.

Angus Thomson, 26, a chartered surveyor from Thistle Street, and friend David Hay, 30, an IT consultant from Murrayfield, hope to raise 10,000 for Teenage Cancer Trust, in honour of friends and loved ones who have died from the illness.

Mr Thomson knows the pain of losing a young friend to cancer, after witnessing former Edinburgh Academy pupil Gordon Lamb succumb to bone cancer aged just 19 four years ago.

Mr Hay also knows how cancer can have an impact on the lives of teenagers after his mother's premature death from breast cancer 13 years ago.

The pair have now teamed up to campaign for a new specialist Teenage Cancer Trust unit at the Western General.

The cost of the unit is estimated at 2 million and half of this money has to be raised through local campaigning.

Mr Thomson said: "We thought a while ago we wanted to raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust, but we wanted to do something different that would inspire people to sponsor us – something a bit out of the box.

"We're both into water sports but we're not seasoned kayakers by any means, yet we thought it would be a good idea to kayak across the Irish Sea.

"Out in the sea you're only one wee boat and a big wave can knock you over. If you capsize it's a lot harder to get back in the boat.

"The fact that we're doing it in two boats should work to our advantage as the other person can carry out a rescue if something happens."

The pair have been practising around the Forth with trips out to Inchkeith and Aberdour. They also recent rowed from North Berwick across to Craigleith.

Mr Thomson said : "It's still over a week until we sail, so the weather forecast will never be too accurate, but we're expecting to have a headwind of around force two or three heading over, which is going to be tough."

Mr Hay added: "We won't be able to make it there and back in a single day, so we will be staying in Ireland overnight, but by the time we're ready to sail back the headwind will become a tailwind.

"We're hoping to break some speed records on the way back."

The pair have received a message of support from Gordon's mother Katy, and his sister Rosie Lamb.

Katy said: "We're absolutely thrilled they're doing this in support of the trust.

"Angus and Gordon used to have great fun together doing water sports up at Loch Ard.

"Cancer is a tough thing for anyone to go through, but teenagers have their own unique problems.

"Gordon was diagnosed when he was 15, and at that age you want to be independent but you suddenly find yourself dependent on a whole host of people.

"There's very little support because you don't find a great deal of affinity in either adult or children's wards."

She added: "It's imperative we find a committed ward for teenagers to help them cope with their illness."