A HAMPSHIRE college student is preparing to canoe more than 100 miles to raise money for charity.
Harold Berendsen, who studies at Barton Peveril Sixth Form College in Eastleigh, is raising money for nearby charity, QE2 Activity Centre.
Travelling from Devizes to Westminster, the challenge will see Harold race 126 miles in the DW Canoe Race between April 15 and 18.
Following in the footsteps of his father, who has completed the race twice, the student, who competes for Southampton Canoe Club, will be rowing for six hours a day.
Competing with his partner, Luke Fraser, the pair will stop briefly at carious checkpoints in order to refuel themselves.
Harold said: "I was inspired to take on this challenge by my Dad, who has completed the DW twice.
"I have always enjoyed kayaking, but training for the DW has meant kayaking at a completely different level."
The former Romsey school pupil has also taken part in four races of 16, 17, 24 and 30 miles in length to prepare.
“Raising money for the QE2 Activity Centre seemed a natural choice for me as it makes the activities that I love accessible to people with additional needs who may not have had the opportunity to try these activities if it wasn't for the centre and the people who run it," he added.
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"Friends of my parents lost their son at sea and they raised enough money for the Centre to enable the purchase of a specialised boat which has wheelchair access.
"I went to the launch of the boat and this inspired me to want to complete the kayak marathon in aid of the QE2 Activity Centre.”
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