CHICHESTER (UK) – In order to raise money for a hospice, an octogenarian retired army major is attempting to row 100 miles (161 km) in a boat he built from corrugated iron. He is following in the footsteps of record-breaking fundraiser Captain Tom Moore.
Michael Stanley, popularly known as Major Mick, built the boat during the lockdown after being inspired by boats used by children in India.
“It was an idea I had in my mind when the lockdown came. I thought I’d buy two sheets of corrugated iron and hopefully make it float like a boat,” he said.
Last month, he started rowing the boat named “Tintanic” along the Chichester canal in West Sussex.
“It goes extremely well, I’ve worked out it travels about two miles an hour,” he said. “It glides through the water and generally speaking doesn’t leak too much.”
He is doing two three-mile round trips each week until he clocks 100 miles and the proceeds will go to the local Saint Wilfrid’s Hospice.
Stanley, who served in the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards for 35 years, has already raised 12,000 pounds, which far exceeds his target of 1,000 pounds.
He was inspired by 100-year-old Captain Tom Moore, who raised 33 million pounds by walking 100 laps in his garden. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth in July.