YMCA River Challenge

Drumahoe YMCA has organised an event for July 9 with the support of the Loughs Agency's Sustainable Development Fund to coincide with the Foyle Maritime Festival.
By The Newsroom
Published 6th Jun 2016, 16:03 BST
Updated 6th Jun 2016, 17:07 BST
YYMCA Challenge involved a 30-mile row on the River Foyle. Photo: Michael CosgroveYYMCA Challenge involved a 30-mile row on the River Foyle. Photo: Michael Cosgrove
YYMCA Challenge involved a 30-mile row on the River Foyle. Photo: Michael Cosgrove

The charity challenge will involve 24 individuals water rafting and canoeing under their own paddle power for 30 miles from Castlederg to the Foyle Marina.

Starting at 8am in Castlederg on July 9, the participants will paddle in rubber rafts to Lifford reaching there at lunch time and changing to 12 man canoes will paddle to the city to arrive at around 4.30pm.

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There will be plenty of opportunity to see and support the paddlers on the many bridges they will pass under and along the river banks. The YMCA would love to see the public give the crews encouragement as they travel downstream through Castlederg, Ardstraw, Douglas Bridge, Victoria Bridge, Sion Mills, Strabane, Lifford, Ballymagorry, Bready, Newbuildings and finally as they reach their destination at the Foyle Marina.

This is a fantastic challenge for those taking part and has never been completed in this format before. While it is not climbing Everest or walking to the North Pole it is still a massive adventure and it is on our own door step.

The organisers have appealed for people to get out on July 9 and support this effort.

Follow the journey on Facebook on the Clipper Connect page.

Related topics:Strabane