Nags walk around IW

Around 30 members of the Nags Charity Barbarians have been walking around the Island over the last weekend to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

The walk was organised by Neil Evans, from Newport, a tutor at Cowes Enterprise College. The charity was formed in 2012 when five rugby players hauled a narrow boat the length of a marathon earning the name ‘Nags’, after the horses which used to pull barges to deliver its cargo.

Neil said: “I started the club and organised our latest charity event walking around the Island. There were three groups of us, the first group, the young fit members, walked over two days; the next group, my group, did it over three days and the third group did as much as they could in their own time!

“On the first day, my group walked from Totland to Ventnor Rugby Club where we all stayed camping. The Military Road was so tough! But we managed it.

“At the end of that day we all got together and had a chat. We have done lots of charity events over the years, including canoeing the River Severn and climbing Snowdon, but we all agreed this was the biggest challenge we have taken part in.

“Over the years, we have raised £200,000 for Cancer Research because it’s a disease which has touched every family. This time we set a target of £1,000 but have raised £5,000 already.

“We have members from 25 rugby teams but are called the ‘Barbarians’ as we have no home ground. But it’s a fantastic charity and there is a great camaraderie among us all.”