A FORMER Okehampton resident will this month take part in a challenge to help raise money for a charity close to his heart.

Tony Rudall, who now lives in Canterbury, will kayak the River Dart from its source on the north of Dartmoor to raise money for Help the Heroes.

Tony, who taught at Okehampton College and is no stranger to challenges, said he wanted to do something to help those suffering.

He said: 'Being ex-military myself I know the pressure the armed forces are under, particularly at the moment, and any help we can give the injured and their families is money well spent.

'Most of the team are ex-military or have military connections so we decided to try to raise money for Help the Heroes and I have set up a website where people may like to contribute.'

Tony said there was a lot of support behind the challenge.

He said: 'The first dribble which turns into ferocious white water is hard to find and is near the remote Cranmere Pool.

'We will have to drag our kayaks for several kilometers to even get there, and if there has been a downpour, the stream could soon become a raging torrent.

'If not, it will be an exhausting bump and grind down the river.'

Tony said several of the team were not kayakers and would trek along the bank and act as a shore party in case the paddlers got into trouble and wedged against a rock or sucked into a 'stopper' — when the water recirculates towards a rock face.

'The main aim of Kayak Madness is to paddle all the white water bits of the Dart from the source, but if that goes well we might even paddle on through Totnes!' said Tony.

Anyone who wants to sponsor Tony and his team can do so at http://www.justgiving.com/Tony-Rudall">www.justgiving.com/Tony-Rudall

The event takes place on Saturday, April 24.