The “Masters and Apprentices” team will be paddling the length of the Murray River between Yarrawonga and Swan Hill and raising money for the Echuca CFA fire brigade, where 15-year-old Martyn has been a volunteer for four years.
James, also aged 15, has been kayaking since 2018, but both boys only started canoeing last year.
“It was James’ idea to go into the Massive Murray Paddle,” Martyn said.
“Then we realised we had to raise money for something, and he came up with the idea of the CFA because I’m in the CFA.”
The team is raising the funds for the CFA by collecting and exchanging plastic bottles, cans and glass bottles, and reportedly already has around 2700 donated.
Echuca CFA captain Rob Amos said the brigade was delighted to be receiving the support from the teenagers who were going to tackle the 404km paddle later this month.
Mr Amos said the event more than justified its names, being ‘massive’ and a ‘marathon’.
“First up, it is fantastic to see these young men prepared to give up their own time and take on such a demanding event and at the same time to think about how they can also help out their community,” he said.
“We are already calling them the ‘oarsome junior foursome’ and wish Martyn, James, Tony and Rod every success when they hit the water in Yarrawonga, headed downstream for Swan Hill.
“And their plan to raise money through collecting cans and bottles for recycling is a win-win on so many levels.
“To then give whatever they raise to Echuca CFA is just icing on this particular cake and these lads are a credit to their families as well as themselves.
“We genuinely thank them for their support — that’s from everyone at Echuca CFA — as it’s a big job they have set themselves and to do it all to raise funds for someone else does them a lot of credit and we wish them well on their journey.
“We would also encourage everyone across our district to let the boys know if they have any empties they can collect — this type of financial support is always so valuable for volunteer organisations such as ours.”
For any community members wishing to donate their empty plastic bottles, cans or glass bottles, the ‘Masters and Apprentices’ are contactable via the Echuca-Moama Canoe Club group on Facebook at www.facebook.com/groups/echmoacc
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