Charity founder planning Arctic Circle trip to support Polar Bound duo
A charity boss is planning a trip to the Arctic Circle to support two seafarers whose voyage to the Northwest Passage included an unscheduled week-long stay in Wick.
David Scott Cowper (82), a round-the-world yachtsman who has prostate cancer, is taking on the treacherous journey in the 48ft motorboat Polar Bound.
He and crew member Susannah Broome (67) expect to face temperatures of minus 20C along with ice, snow and gales over the next few months.
David and Susannah, both from Newcastle, left north-east England on July 8 on a 20,000-mile return journey taking them to the sea lane between the Atlantic and Pacific through the Arctic Ocean.
After fuelling up in Wick, David was bothered by a shin injury he had sustained when tripping over the boat’s anchor before setting off. He ended up being placed on intravenous drips at Caithness General Hospital and he praised the “absolutely excellent service” he received there.
David and Susannah are now well on their way, having reached the southern tip of Greenland.
They are raising awareness and funds for a Newcastle-based charity called Daft as a Brush Cancer Patient Care, which provides free transportation to and from hospital for patients undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy and has ambitions to expand in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Its logo is emblazoned on the bow of the boat.
Charity founder Brian Burnie (80) travelled to Wick on July 12 to support David and Susannah and he is now planning to visit them again, in September – this time in northern Canada.
Brian said: “I’ve decided to fly out to the Arctic Circle on September 16 to meet David and Susannah when they take on provisions at Cambridge Bay in Canada.
“My local travel agent didn’t even know where Cambridge Bay was. It is a remote Arctic community and just getting there is an arduous task.
“I’m funding this privately as I feel Susannah and David could do with the support and, above all, I wanted to really thank them for their incredible efforts promoting free cancer patient transport.
“I’ll also be taking their favourite treats, lots of dark chocolate and biscuits.”
Live tracking of the Polar Bound is available on the Daft as a Brush website which can also accept donations.
When David returns in October he will continue his treatment for prostate cancer. It was during his initial treatment at Newcastle Freeman Hospital that he became familiar with the work of Daft as a Brush Cancer Patient Care.
David was the first man to sail solo round the world in both directions. During his time in Wick, when asked about the motivation for this latest voyage, he replied: “It’s really just the achievement of doing it.
“There are seven routes through the Northwest Passage, of which I’ve done six, so this is the last one.”
