A four-strong team from Monmouth and Ross-on-Wye, will be jumping onto a pedalo for a formidable challenge on Loch Ness on Saturday, September 28th for Cancer Research Wales.

The team will be competing in Monster the Loch to raise funds in memory of Monmouth School for Boys’ pupil, Tom Walker, for a PhD studentship into acute myeloid leukaemia.

Monmouth School for Boys pupil, Angus Whitehead, his dad, Adrian, godfather, Nick Roberts-Wearing, and Tom’s dad, Tim Walker, will be pushing themselves to the limit in Scotland.

“Not only will they attempt to cover the length of Loch Ness in a pedalo but they will be trying to set a new World Record,” said Angus’ mum, Angela Whitehead.

“The record is up for grabs because one doesn’t actually exist at the moment but another pedalo team will be taking part at Loch Ness so the race is on.”

Last year, Angus was part of a school crew from Monmouth which rowed the 22.7-mile challenge in the maiden Monster the Loch event and raised almost £3,000 for Cancer Research Wales.

The boys were on course to challenge the race’s record time, but were hindered by poor conditions and technical problems which eventually forced them to stop shortly before the finish line.

Tom Walker, 13, was a pupil at Monmouth School for Boys when he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in June 2018.

Tragically, he failed to recover from an operation required to start treatment into the condition and he died the day after the diagnosis.

Research students can now apply for a three-year Tom Walker Cancer Wales PhD Studentship for Acute Myeloid Leukaemia after Tom’s family, friends and the Haberdashers’ Monmouth Schools’ community united to raise £100,000 in just 11 months.

Fundraising, including the second Monster the Loch challenge, is continuing and to support the latest challenge, please visit:https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/monsterthelochfortom