Robin Naylor, 61, travelled the length of the River Aire between Malham Tarn, near Skipton and the Humber Bridge at Hull, to raise money for Aquabox. This charity provides aid for communities worldwide where fresh drinking water is unavailable. His challenge – entitled Source to Sea – saw him pass through Skipton, Keighley, Bingley, Shipley, Baildon and Apperley Bridge, and equated to five marathons in five days. He temed up with Rotary Clubs on his route to supoport his fund-raising efforts.
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- Robin passes through Malham
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- Robin Sets off from the source of the Aire, Malham Tarn
Low water in the River Aire has necessitated much portage of his craft. On his back is the inflator and the Aquabox water filter which Robin is using to drink River Aire water en route. He would not sit down lest cramp set in. Arthur Smith (Shipley Club), Mike Bamford (ex ADG for Bradford Area) and Chris Walbank (Headingley) were there to cheer him on his way.
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- Chris Walbank (Headingley), Mike Bamford (ex ADG for Bradford Area) and Arthur Smith (Shipley Club) with Robin and his land assistant
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- Robin arrives at The Mason’s Arms, Gargrave
By Wednesday – Day 2 – Robin has passed through Bingley and arrived in his Canadian canoe at the end of The Leeds Liverpool canal at 7.20 pm. Headingley Rotary turned out in strength to lend moral support and join in the reception at The Double Tree Hilton organised by Leeds White Rose.
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- Headingley Rotarians Darron Dixon-Hardy. Robert Gee, Chris Walbank, Iain Farquharson-Welsh, Colette Crossen and Nick Pinches attend Robin’s arrival in Leeds
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- Iain Farquharson-Welsh and Nick Pinches share a drink with Robin
With Three days to go and having drunk nothing but filtered Aire water all day, Robin enjoys a pint with our Past-President and President-elect. For further details see https://www.facebook.com/RotaryRiverAireChallenge.