How a chat over a beer on the wharf has led to two Harborough friends setting off on a marathon canoe voyage

Two intrepid Harborough friends are really pushing the boat out as they gear up to tackle a marathon canoe voyage to support a vital cancer charity.

Tim Peacock, 29, and Ian Shipley, 44, are set to paddle over 200 kilometres (136 miles) on the Grand Union Canal to back Cancer Research UK.

And the two close mates are preparing to hit the water after getting bored during the long Covid-19 lockdown.

Tim, of Little Bowden, Market Harborough, said: “We were both sat enjoying a beer or two on the wharf at North Kilworth – Ian lives on a canal boat there.

“We watched as someone swept past on a kayak.

“So we decided there and then that we’d build our own canoes and do something special.”

The fired-up pals swiftly got down to work, built their craft and are now looking forward to take on the Kilworth Canoe 200 challenge.

“We’ve both done a bit of canoeing before but quite a few years ago.

“We’ve been going out three or four times a week for two to three hours at a time,” said Tim, a production manager for theatre shows.

“We have also embarked on a weekend trip away, racking up about 25 miles, to test all our camping kit and build up our confidence.

“We’re doing fine but the last hour or so was agony – we were certainly feeling our backs, shoulders and arms!”

The two canoe chums will fire the starting gun on their incredible Grand Union canal adventure in London on Tuesday September 1.

“We are aiming to cover about 12-13 miles a day.

“We’ll be totally self-sufficient along the way carrying all of our food and camping equipment.

“The entire journey will top 200 kilometres and we’ll be carrying our canoes around 145 locks and four tunnels,” said Tim.

“So it’s going to be quite a test of our physical and mental stamina.

“But it’ll be fantastic to do this together in the Great Outdoors close to nature and to do something so positive after such a difficult time.”

Tim and Ian, a carpenter and theatre crewman, have already raised about £1,200 towards their target of £4,000.

“That’s about £1 for every 50 metres we paddle.

“We are being supported all the way by Kilworth House Hotel and Theatre – where we’ve both worked in the past,” said Tim.

“Cancer Research UK is Kilworth House’s nominated charity this year so we’ve decided to get behind it.

“We have been receiving brilliant support and Kilworth House launched our video trailer as donations continue to pour in.

“We hope that with further help from the local community and businesses right across Harborough we will be canoeing to make a real difference.”

If you would like to back inspiring Tim and Ian as they prepare to launch their backbreaking effort visit their fundraising website here: www.justgiving.com/kilworthcanoe200And you can track them all the way as Ian and Tim will be filming their waterborne odyssey and providing daily live updates across Facebook, Instagram and YouTube: @kilworthcanoe200.