They took on 350 kilometres in 24 days by kayak, including two weeks stranded on a deserted island – all to raise funds for Rare Cancers Australia, in memory of their dear friend Bek.
Thank you to Melbourne mates Fred Coleridge, Rob Hays, Richard Martin, Michael Zippel, Kieran Paton and Ben Wilkie for braving the journey from Wilsons Promontory in Victoria, across the Bass Strait, and to Cape Portland in Tasmania from 8 to 31 March 2021.
Fred tells their story below:
Bek passed away last year from an extremely rare cancera disease where abnormal cells split without control and spread to other nearby body tissue and/or organs known as Acinar Cell Carcinomacancer arising from tissues that line organs of the liver. She left behind her beautiful 18-month-old daughter Winnie and her amazing husband Omy. It was the most shattering thing. We wanted to do something to keep her memory alive.
The idea of kayaking across the Bass Strait came about after a discussion one night during the second Victorian lockdown. This idea very quickly became a reality when we ordered new kayaks for the trip four days later.
The most challenging part of our journey was definitely when we got stuck on Erith Island, 150 kilometres away from civilisation, facing 12 days of relentless easterlies regularly clocking 100-kilometre gusts.
It was harrowing but also amazing. We camped in our tents but also found shelter in a corrugated iron hut after a few tents were defeated by the wind. We rationed food, fished, and kept each other sane with games of bocce and good conversation.
We also got through a number of lengthy paddling legs along our voyage, the longest being a 70-kilometre paddle from Deal Island to Killiekrankie on Flinders Island.
It was an incredible experience and we’re all still friends which is an achievement in itself.
It was also really great to switch off from the millennial’s everyday life and to just enjoy a trip away together, remembering our friend Bek.
The Strait Yakers’ fundraising target for the trip was $10,000. Instead, they raised more than $32,000 which will be evenly split between Rare Cancers Australia and another charity close to the boys’ heart, Wheels In Motion.
Thank you Fred, Rob, Richard, Michael, Kieran and Ben!