A FLOTILLA of canoeists, kayakers and paddlers will be making their way down the River Tees this summer, as they celebrate the diversity of the river and raise money for local hospices.

The Rotary on Tees Challenge will see them navigate their way along eight miles of the River Tees from Yarm to the Tees Barrage in Stockton on Sunday, August 26.

Organised by the Rotary Club of Stokesley and supported by the River Tees Rediscovered Landscape Partnership, it will raise money for four hospices in the North-East and North Yorkshire. The hospices are; Zoe’s Place and Teesside hospices in Middlesbrough, the Butterwick Hospice in Stockton and Herriot Homecare, which supports people in Hambleton and Richmondshire.

Running alongside the event, there will be a guided river walk, when families can walk from Preston Park to the Tees Barrage. It will be led by River Tees Rediscovered (RTR), which aims to develop the river and its surrounding area through conservation and community activities.

The flotilla challenge will be led by Rotary Club of Stokesley canoeists Reed Gamble and Graham Brotton.

The rotary club's former president, Ken Braithwaite, said: “This year we’ve joined forces with the River Tees Rediscovered to try and ensure as many people as possible get to enjoy the event, discover the joys of walking the river bank in line with our aim of promoting community engagement and well-being.”

The challenge is open to applicants, aged 14 or over, who have a minimum of two hours or 5km waterborne experience. Those aged between 14 and 18 must be accompanied by an adult and all challengers must provide their own vessels and safety equipment.

Places on the challenge are limited and while there’s no entry fee, each paddler is expected to sign up as many sponsors as possible to benefit the four hospices.

The paddling flotilla will leave Yarm School around 9am on Bank Holiday Sunday.

Paddlers wishing to take part should apply for further details from Norman Baker by emailing; normanandpamelabaker@gmail.com or ringing; 01642-711066.

RTR’s guided riverside walk, which will span around seven miles, will be free and open to 20 participants.

To sign up for the walk, visit; riverteesrediscovered.org or email; Christine.corbett@groundwork.org.uk or ring; 01642-616144.