A TEAM of Kelly College pupils and staff will be taking part in the annual Devizes to Westminster Canoe Race this weekend, raising funds for St. Luke's Hospice in Plymouth - the target is £1,000.
Kelly College Combined Cadet Force has entered teams for the past five years under the guidance of Chris Ingram, commercial manager and adventure instructor at Kelly.
The team this year consists of seven pupils, Gareth Lewis, Graham Prentice, Henry Murray, Victoria Strickland, Richard Morris, Gwen Penry and Gina Schreiber, and four staff, Chris Ingram, Dominic March, Martin Wilkin and Roger Huish.
Training has taken place through the winter on Exeter Canal, Tamar, River Dart and sections of the actual race itself on the Kennet and Avon Canal.
Training has not always gone smoothly and the team has had to cope with bouts of flu and injuries, including six stitches in Roger Huish's head from hitting a low bridge.
But the strength of character from all involved has been superb and should stand them in good stead for the race.
The race covers 125 miles on the Kennet and Avon Canal and, from Reading, the River Thames. Overnight stops are in Newbury, Marlow and Teddington.
Chris Ingram, team co-ordinator and coach, will complete the race with his partner Dominic March non-stop, aiming for an overall time of 26 hours. Having trained teams for six years this will be Chris Ingram's last event as he is leaving Kelly to join the Dorset Police.