A COUPLE from Bere Alston last week set off on a gruelling five month kayaking adventure to raise for charity.

Andy and Jane Morton left Plymouth on April 6 from Plymouth in their double kayak Persey, short for Perseverance, on a trip that will take them 3,000 miles around the UK and Irish coast.

Their chosen charities are the RNLI, as well as the Merlin MS centre — a cause very close to Jane's heart, as her late father was diagnosed with the condition. The expedition is to be self-supported and largely self-financed with the key aim being to raise as much money as possible for the two chosen charities.

The couple have spent more than a year in preparation for the long-term dream, with rigourous planning and training needed to make sure that everything goes smoothly.

Not least of their problems was the meticulous fitting of all the gear into Persey's small holds.

One hundred and fifty friends, family and well wishers attended the launch party at Weir Quay, which included a barbecue run by the Tamar and Tavy Gig Club, a bar and a display from the Dartmoor Border Morris side.

The mayor of West Devon, Cllr Robin Musgrave, was also there and made a speech before waving the couple off on their great adventure.

It is believed that if they successfully complete their challenge, they will be the first married couple to complete it in a tandem kayak.

The couple met as teenagers taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award canoeing expedition and both row regularly with the Tamar and Tavy Gig Club.

They said 'We relish the self-sufficent nature of the trip both on and off the water.

'We also love meeting so many interesting people along the way and getting to know the coastal communities we pass through.'

'We've done a lot of expedition paddling together so have the advantage of knowing each other's little niggles and quirks and have developed routines which we fall into easily.'

For more information and how to donate please visit http://www.k2gb.org.uk">www.k2gb.org.uk