Challenging commute to work – by foot, bike, kayak, raft and wheelbarrow!

Ben Collins and his raft

FORMER Frome College student, Ben Collins is preparing himself for a 50 mile challenge to raise money for mental health charity Mind. 

Ben will travel his daily commute from his home in Frome to Taunton where he works at Ashfords LLP as a trainee Chartered Legal Executive but in a very different way than normal.

He will travel the 50 miles by foot, bike, kayak, raft and wheelbarrow, which will take roughly 13 hours.

The ‘Benathlon’ on Saturday the 8th August will start at sunrise and finish ‘hopefully’ at 7.30pm at the office.

Ben said, “Having survived a 15,000 foot skydive for Children’s Hospice South West last year I wanted to set myself an even greater challenge.”

Ashford LLP’s charity of 2015 is ‘Mind’ so Ben is raising money for them. “It’s a fantastic cause supporting those with mental health issues,” Ben said. “We are setting off from my house in Frome at 5.45am and walking to Shepton Mallet via Whatley, Chantry and Doulting. From there we are cycling to Bridgwater Docks across the levels to the Admirals Landing pub where we will board the kayaks and kayak about eight miles down the canal to North Newton, where I believe there is a lock and the A361 crosses overhead.

“We are running from this point 5km into Creech St Michael before getting back on the canal on our home-built raft into Bathpool. The final stretch is by wheelbarrow to the office on Blackbrook Park Avenue.

“There will be about four or five of us at each stage and a friend and colleague of mine Sam Turley will be embarking on the entire journey whilst others join in for stages along the route.

“I am definitely looking forward to it. There has been a lot of behind the scenes preparation and we are just about ready. I do a lot of running and have been out cycling a couple of times to build up the fitness.”

To donate to Ben’s ‘Benathlon’ visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserPage.action?userUrl=Benathlon&pageUrl=38&isTeam=true