A TEAM of twenty intrepid Npower employees from across the UK, including five from Rainton House, in Houghton-le-Spring, headed for the highlands of Scotland this week in a bid to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support.

The team signed up for a three day, 60-mile paddle across Scotland in two-seater Canadian canoes, carrying all their supplies of food and equipment with them in ‘dry bags’ and sealed barrels.

The trip required seven “portages”, where the canoes and equipment had to be lifted out of the water and carried over multiple locks.

Following the route of the Great Glenn, on the first day the team started off in Fort William at the foot of Ben Nevis and paddled across Loch Lochy, where the weather changed for the worse with heavy wind and rain. Two canoes capsized on the Loch and has to be rescued by one of the guides.

The squad then camped out on the first night before taking on Loch Oich, going through Fort Augustus and starting Loch Ness on day two.

After a second night of camping the team completed Loch Ness, went across Loch Dochfort and reached Inverness at tea time on the third day.

Heather Tyrer, Npower’s community manager and veteran of many challenges, said, “Without a doubt this was the hardest challenge yet. They say in Scotland, “if you don’t like the weather, wait ten minutes”, and that was certainly the case for us. One moment we were paddling on calm water in glorious sunshine and the next we were being hit by high winds and very choppy waters. Despite capsizing and getting all my clothes and sleeping bag wet, it was still a fabulous experience in aid of a brilliant cause.”

The npower volunteers were guided and supported by Donald Macpherson from Explore Highlands and Mike Dunthorne from In Your Element.

The squad raised more than £11,000 which will be matched funded by npower and donated to the Macmillan team.