“Major Mick” Michael Stanley is currently on his second rowing challenge to raise money for Alzheimer's Research UK
In his first challenge, the 80 year old completed 100 miles rowing at 2mph twice a week along the Chichester Canal last December in the first Tintanic,
From this, he raised £44,000 for the St Wilfrid’s Hospice in Bosham, West Sussex.
Well, he's been back at it again, and is currently at the Falkirk Wheel in central Scotland as part of his second charity challenge in his boat the Tintanic II. The original boat he sold to charity.
Mr Stanley described the latest landmark he has visited as “an absolutely wonderful bit of British engineering” as he continues his journey in his tin boat.
When asked about it by the PA News Agency, the former Royal Scots Dragoon Guards said “my boat’s a bit of fun – I started off with two sheets of corrugated iron and started from there to make it float."
The latest challenge, for Alzheimer’s Research UK, began in Chichester on May 28 before moving on to Beaulieu in the New Forest – and he has already completed 83 miles.
On Monday he will begin rowing down Aberdeenshire’s River Devron to the Bridge of Alvah and then Banff; before going to Invershin and down the Kyle of Sutherland in the Highlands at the end of the week; then Inverness Rowing Club on August 30 and Loch Ness the following day.
After returning to Edinburgh on September 2, the challenge will then finish later that month back in Chichester – around the time Mr Stanley turns 81.
The retired Army major added: “I’m seeing a lot of my friends who I knew in the Army for the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards later in the week.
“I love coming to Scotland, we try and come every year, we’ve got a lot of relations in Scotland.
“But also it’s a nationwide charity therefore it’s nice to go all over the country rather than doing it in one particular place.
“I started this at the beginning of lockdown when I didn’t have much to do… as I tell people there’s life in the old dog yet.
“I feel very fit and fortunate and while I feel fit I’ll keep pressing on.”
More than £6,000 has already been raised on a JustGiving page for the challenge – and you can donate by visiting:
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/majormick-tintanic
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