https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cydd1lq446mo
Cancer patient, 82, sets sail on 20,000-mile voyage
BBCAlmost 45 years ago, Newcastle yachtsman David Cowper was the first man to sail solo round the world in both directions.
Now 82, Mr Cowper is taking on the 20,000-mile return voyage through the Northwest Passage - the sea lane between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans through the Arctic Ocean.
The expedition is unforgiving with temperatures down to -20C, ice, snow, bitter gales and weeks of isolation.
He was due to depart in July 2023, but his adventure was put on hold when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.
The journey, which will take them north through the Pentland Firth, before crossing the Atlantic below Iceland and Greenland and eventually lead the pair across the Arctic circle, will take about six months to complete.
Speaking to BBC Radio Newcastle, Mr Cowper said: "The thing is to not become complacent. We have to take precautions and be sensible because the sea will always win."
During the summer months, the pair will experience 24 hours of daylight along their journey.
He hopes his challenge will raise funds to purchase new cancer patient ambulances for the charity.
"I am lucky to live very close to the hospital, so I walked there each day," Mr Cowper said.
"But there are hundreds of patients all over the region and beyond who do not live near a cancer centre, the Daft as a Brush free service is essential in our region and beyond."
Speaking about Mr Cowper's challenge to help the charity, Daft as a Brush boss Brian Burnie said: "Such a gruelling challenge for anyone, but at 82? David’s passion and commitment is hugely admirable, and to highlight the Daft as a Brush charity is very thoughtful."
He added the charity was "thrilled" to be part of Mr Cowper's journey and hoped to raise enough funds to buy new cancer patient ambulances for each nation in the UK.
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Cancer charity boss finishes 7,000 mile coast trek
Daft as a Brush founder charity boss finishes 7,000 mile coast trek
Daft as a BrushA charity boss who arranges transport for cancer patients has completed a 7,000-mile (11,265km) trek as he bids to make his service national.
Daft as a Brush founder Brian Burnie set off around the coastline of the UK and Ireland in 2018 from Newcastle.
However, after walking almost 6,000 miles (9,650km), he was halted in March this year by the coronavirus lockdown.
Mr Burnie 76, said it was "unbelievably moving" as he was welcomed back to Newcastle by friends and family.
Daft as a BrushHighlights of his trip included getting married on the Isle of Skye to Cheryl, his partner of four years, who assisted him throughout the expedition.
The couple used a converted double-decker bus as a mobile home throughout their journey.
They started in Gateshead, went up and around the Scottish coast, on to Wales, then completed the Irish coast before returning to complete England.
Daft as a BrushThey had got as far as Torquay when the lockdown came in, forcing them to return home.
But, inspired by Capt Tom Moore, Mr Burnie completed enough laps of his garden and a local golf club to cover the distance between Torquay and Middlesbrough, from where he resumed his walk.
Mr Burnie, who has Parkinson's disease, visited cancer centres around the country to tell them about his charity, which has 350 volunteers and 30 ambulances which make 45,000 patient journeys in the North East annually.
Daft As A BrushHe said: "My dream is to roll the charity out nationwide.
"Cancer patients have told me that just getting to hospital every day can cause as much stress and anxiety as the treatment itself, so if we can help relieve that then we must."
He said he has no plans to celebrate the completion of his walk and instead is "looking forward" to getting back to work at the charity tomorrow.
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Millionaire gives away his estate
Millionaire gives away his estate | |||
A Northumberland millionaire is selling his £16m country estate and giving every penny of the proceeds to charity. Brian Burnie is open to offers for the Doxford Hall Hotel and its 10 acre estate near Alnwick. He hopes to use the profits from the sale to establish and pay for a Macmillan cancer nurse for north Northumberland. The 64-year-old also hopes to pay for a set of custom-made vehicles to take cancer patients to and from hospitals. Mr Burnie said: "We live in a me, me, me society and it has always been important to me to think of others. "We can all do something by leaving money to charity when we die, but why don't we do something while we are still living?"
Father-of-three Mr Burnie said he and his wife Shirley - a breast cancer survivor - would live on their private pension when the estate was sold. He said: "We won't exactly be selling the Big Issue but we will be downsizing. "I've done the stately home bit - the bricks and mortar - but I've always been a people person. "To be able to do something to help people has a much bigger return than any financial gain." The Newcastle-born millionaire joked he "went to school in Heaton and not Eton". 'Millionaires in kindness' He said: "You are what your parents are and you should never forget your roots - we were millionaires in kindness, not money. "Writing out the cheque is the easy bit - it's actually getting off your jacket and helping the cause you want to support that is the hard part." Mr Burnie began his working life as a 15-year-old grocery delivery boy before beginning a student apprenticeship for builders John Laing. He progressed to become a trained engineer before moving into management - firstly in the building industry then in petrochemicals. In 1979, Mr Burnie and a partner started investment company Kelburn Holdings in Newcastle before later moving into recruitment. Brightly coloured vehicles This all led to Mr Burnie and his wife buying Doxford Hall from Northumberland County Council in 1993. It is now a 25-bedroom hotel and spa complex which also hosts conferences and weddings. Mr Burnie said he will call the transport service Daft As A Brush and will use brightly coloured vehicles. Mr and Mrs Burnie have been contributing to charity for the last 40 years, supporting various cancer charities, inviting war veterans to their home for meals and opening their door to the less fortunate on Christmas Day. A spokeswoman for Macmillan Cancer Trust said: "We are hoping to meet with Mr Burnie next week to discuss his plans and look forward to working with him to help people affected by cancer in Northumberland." | |||
Writing out the cheque is the easy bit - its actually getting off your jacket and helping the cause you want to support that is the hard part
Daft as a Brush
Welcome to Daft as a Brush Cancer Patient Care – We transport cancer patients to and from hospital, free of charge.
Dr Ali Zaatar has been a Daft as a Brush volunteer for over 10 years. Discover what it’s like to help cancer patients on their journey to recovery.
Can you give something back? Volunteers required in all areas of the North East.
Who are 'Daft as a Brush'?
The charity, Daft as a Brush Cancer Patient Care, specialise in transporting cancer patients to and from hospital for their Chemotherapy and / or Radiotherapy treatment, free of charge.
The service involves collecting and transporting patients in a safe and comfortable environment from where they are living to where they will be having their treatment. If required, a volunteer companion will stay with the patient during their Chemotherapy and / or Radiotherapy.
The patient is returned to their home in readiness for their next course of treatment. The charity completes thousands of cancer patient journeys each year with a passionate team of hundreds of volunteers and a large fleet of of ambulances. All donations received go directly to supporting cancer patients on their journey to recovery with Daft as a Brush Cancer Patient Care.
Daft as a Brush Cancer Patient Care Charitable Trust was awarded The Queens Award for Voluntary Services in 2016.
Help us to support cancer patients on their journey to recovery.
Daft as a Brush Cancer Patient Care is a free service for Cancer Patients and is totally funded by donations and the hard work done by our amazing volunteers.
Only with the support of people like you can we continue caring for people living with cancer across the region. Donations can be made by on-line from our 'Donate' link quickly and easily, or by post to our office in Gosforth, or by personal visit to Reception.
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82 year old cancer patient takes on his greatest challenge to raise funds to purchase new cancer patient ambulances.
Newcastle yachtsman, David Scott Cowper, 82, was the first man to sail solo round the world in both directions.
Awarded Honorary Freedom of the City of Newcastle, Mr Cowper, who is undergoing treatment for prostate cancer, is now taking on a huge personal challenge; a return voyage through the Northwest Passage - the sea lane between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans through the Arctic Ocean, while emphasising the services of local charity Daft as a Brush Cancer Patient Care!
Highlighting the good work and the need for the Daft as a Brush charity, both David and charity boss Brian Burnie are hoping to raise funds for brand-new cancer patient ambulances at the country’s main cancer hubs in Cardiff, Edinburgh, Belfast and London as part of the charity’s goal to expand nationwide.
Can YOU help us rasie £100,000 for 3 new 'Daft as a Brush' Cancer Patient Ambulances?
What an exciting challenge - Click here to discover more!
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Donate over the phone by calling 0191 28 55 999 - Please quote 'Polar Bound' when donating.
Polar Bound for Daft as a Brush Cancer Patient Care!