Are you looking for a new, exciting way to raise funds for your organisation or your favourite charity? If so, the Friends of Dawn Rose have a great idea. Your team can pull a 70 foot long, hand-built, wooden narrowboat on the Chesterfield Canal.
The Friends are organising a Sponsored Boat Pull all the way from Shireoaks to West Stockwith and back. They will set off on June 4th and finish on June 18th. Don’t worry, you won’t have to pull it all the way! The journey has been split up into twenty sections which vary from less than one mile to four miles and no locks to eight locks. You can choose which section suits you on which day and at what time of day – morning, afternoon or evening.
You pay a £50 fee to the Friends of Dawn Rose and everything else that you raise goes to your chosen good cause.
Pulling a ten ton boat might sound impossible. In fact it is surprisingly easy. The Friends will supply harnesses with which two people can pull Dawn Rose very comfortably. Your team can take it in turns. The Friends will steer and manage the boat, but you will be able to help, under supervision. As you will be going at walking pace, you can bring friends and family to share in a great day out along this beautiful waterway.
Some members of the Chesterfield MG Group came to Shireoaks to try it out. They got on really well and thoroughly enjoyed it, so they will be booking a section.
Chesterfield Canal boats were built to a unique design dating back to the 1770s. They scarcely changed in 150 years. All the old ones have rotted away, so Dawn Rose is the only one in existence. It is 70’ long with no engine and was built over the course of four years by volunteers from the Chesterfield Canal Trust to the traditional design, using hand tools only, and was launched last year.
To find out more, go to the Chesterfield Canal Trust website, email dawnrose@chesterfield-canal-trust.org.uk, ring 01246 477569 or write to Sponsored Boat Pull, Friends of Dawn Rose, Hollingwood Hub, 22 Works Road, Chesterfield, S43 2PF. Leaflets are available from various outlets along the canal.
