A dad from Leominster will be taking part in an endurance challenge for Ross-on-Wye based charity, Rocky-Lee’s Little Feet. In one day, Daniel Turner will be canoeing 30 miles from Hereford to Ross, before cycling back to Hereford.

The charity, Rocky-Lee’s Little Feet provides support to bereaved parents. This charity means a great deal to Daniel and his wife, Carla, as their daughter, Angel, was stillborn on July 15th, 2014.

The couple live in Leominster with their two daughters, Lexi-Mai, who is four, and Sophia who is six months old. Daniel said that when choosing Sophia’s name, he and Carla wanted it to correspond with the name of Angel.

“Personally, I hadn’t asked for help,” Daniel told the Gazette. “I won’t ask for anything from them. It’s my first fundraising event for Rocky-Lee’s Little Feet, I hope to do an event every couple of years or so, and the event will get bigger each time.”

Sian and Martin Coopey, from Ross, founded the charity in June 2013, after their son, Rocky-Lee was stillborn. The charity helps pay for headstones for stillborn babies, as well as providing support.

Daniel said that although he has not yet met Sian and Martin personally, he has spoken to Sian online. “It’s quite helpful knowing there’s others out there who have been through the same thing,” he said.

Sian Coopey told the Ross Gazette: “We are so pleased Daniel is fundraising for us, his challenge certainly isn’t easy and we are very thankful for the awareness he will also raise for us on his journey. We cannot wait to cheer him along on the day and welcome him to Ross in his canoe.”

Daniel will embark on his endurance challenge on July 9th. “I’ve never canoed in my life, I’ve probably bitten off more than I can chew,” he said.

Daniel did have another issue with the canoe side of the challenge. A canoe hire company which had promised to give him some training, and provide him with a canoe, as agreed in September, have recently told Daniel they would no longer be able to do this.

Luckily, another company has come to Daniel’s aid: Ultimate Activities, based in Hereford have promised to help, no matter what. Daniel said he was very grateful, as he knows July is a busy season for them.

On July 9th, Daniel will leave Hereford at 5am. The canoe trip is estimated to take eight hours, so he plans to be in Ross for approximately 1pm. He will take a short break, where he will grab a quick bite to eat, he will then cycle back to Hereford, and he assesses that he will be finished between 4pm and 5pm.

“I’ve been training for the cycling side,” Daniel said, “I plan to get over to Hereford next week to start the training for the canoe part. I’ve spoken to someone at the canoe hire place, and they’re happy to give training and equipment. They’ve been quite helpful.”

To sponsor Daniel, visit his online donation page: www.totalgiving.co.uk/mypage/riverangels. For more information about Rocky-Lee’s Little Feet, visit: www.rockyleeslittlefeet.co.uk.