Paddling pensioners' kayak challenge will help farming mental health charity

Three paddling pensioners with a combined age of 239 will be kayaking 30 miles along the River Wensum this weekend to raise money for a farming mental health charity.

The "Three Old Men in Boats" challenge will start at Sculthorpe Mill on Friday and end at Pulls Ferry in Norwich on Saturday afternoon.

The trio includes two members of the Holt Rotary Club - Rod Hunt, 85, and John Rampling, 84, - along with 70-year-old Henry Kilvert from Little Dunham.

Mr Kilvert is a trustee of YANA (You Are Not Alone), the Norfolk-based rural mental health charity which will benefit from the fundraising effort.

The kayakers have set an ambitious goal of raising £25,000 for YANA, but also aim to raise awareness about the charity's important work supporting mental health in East Anglia's agricultural and rural business communities.

The charity has recently launched a live helpline service to deal with a rising number of calls from struggling farmers and isolated village communities.

Mr Kilvert said the kayak challenge will help with the running costs, as well as YANA's funded counselling.

Every call to the new helpline costs the charity £50, he said, and its counselling sessions have increased from six to nine, so each course costs £450.

He added that it was important to raise money to keep the charity's services free and available to everyone, but also to raise awareness of the support available.

"There are people who are not aware how YANA can help them and how it is healthy to talk about these problems," he said.

"Having a combined age of 239 years we can demonstrate to other pensioners that there are plenty of worthwhile activities to be involved in which will help lift their moods.

"I feel so much better having meandered down such a peaceful calming river. You are transported into a different world where all your cares in the world are left behind."

Donations can be made at www.justgiving.com/campaign/3-old-men-in-boats.

YANA’s confidential helpline can be contacted on 0300 323 0400, or via yanahelp.org or helpline@yanahelp.org.