UK army veteran 'Major Mick' attempts to row 100 miles in homemade boat

He is doing two three-mile round trips every week until he completes his challenge

Published: October 20, 2020 08:25 Reuters and Compiled by Nathaniel Lacsina, Senior Web Editor

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Chichester, England: An 80-year-old retired British army major is attempting to row 100 miles (161 km) in a boat he built from corrugated iron to raise money for a hospice, following the example of record-breaking fundraiser Captain Tom Moore. Image Credit: Reuters

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Michael Stanley, also known as Major Mick, said he built the vessel during the COVID-19 lockdown. Image Credit: Reuters

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"It was an idea I had in my mind when the lockdown came. I thought I'd buy two sheets of corrugated iron and hopefully make it float like a boat," he said in an interview. Image Credit: Reuters

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Stanley started rowing the boat, which he has named "Tintanic", along the Chichester canal in West Sussex, southern England, last month. Image Credit: Reuters

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"It goes extremely well, I've worked out it travels about two miles an hour," he said. "It glides through the water and generally speaking doesn't leak too much." Image Credit: Reuters

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He is doing two three-mile round trips every week until he completes his challenge, which is benefiting the local Saint Wilfrid's Hospice. Image Credit: Reuters

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Stanley, who served in the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards for 35 years, has already raised 12,000 pounds ($15,600), beating his original 1,000 pound target. Image Credit: Reuters

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His challenge emulates on water the feat of 100-year-old Captain Tom Moore, who raised a record 33 million pounds by walking 100 miles in his garden. Moore was knighted by Queen Elizabeth for his achievement in July. Image Credit: Reuters

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A passerby donates to 80-year old military veteran Michael Stanley. Image Credit: Reuters

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Major Mick rows his homemade boat along a canal as part of his fundraising challenge to raise funds for St Wilfrid's Hospice, in Chichester, Britain. Image Credit: Reuters

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