A MAN who is taking on a gruelling 250-mile charity trek along canal towpaths is appealing for help in finding a place to pitch his tent in Bromsgrove or Stoke Prior.
Mark Willis will be walking with his rescue dog Nina in July to raise funds for Battersea and the Canal and River Trust.
To make the challenge as difficult as possible, Mark is entirely self-funded and self-supported.
And he will also be hauling all the pair’s survival gear in a 25kg trolley the entire way.
When Mark and Nina pass through Bromsgrove on July 1 and again on July 22, they will need a place where they can pitch their tent for those nights.
Mark told the Standard: “We are turning to the Bromsgrove community.
“We are desperately looking for a local hero.
“If a local farmer, pub landlord, or canalside resident near Bridge 42 could spare a tiny patch of grass for a single tent on July 1 or 22, it would be absolutely amazing.
“We’ve received loads of offers for overnight safe camping spots, but Stoke Prior (our first and penultimate nights) is proving difficult to nail down.
“Our route passes directly through the Stoke Prior area (around Shaw Lane / Bridge 42).”
He added, because of the 25kg trolley and the need to keep Nina safe, wild camping on the exposed towpath in this specific area was simply not an option and it has currently left them without a safe harbour for the night.
On the trip, he added: “The campaign has gained incredible momentum.
“We received an official letter of support from His Majesty The King, and major national YouTubers, including Ashley Neal, Narrowboat Life Unlocked and Cruising the Cut, are joining us along the route – they are helping to promote the campaign.”
Anyone who can help should email: [email protected] to get in touch with Mark.
