Oxford academic to embark on giant charity adventure

Professor Kevin Dutton, 58, from Oxford, will travel from Les Minquieres, the southernmost point of the UK, to Out Stack, the northernmost point of the British Isles.

The 1,500-mile journey will be completed by boat and rickshaw over the course of a month.

Professor Dutton said: “We want to celebrate and find ways to nurture the strengths of our young people and raise significant funds for 10 children’s mental health charities.

“Every day adults make decisions about children’s mental health – in schools, clinics, policy rooms and research labs – yet the one group rarely asked what actually helps is the children themselves.

“Children often understand their struggles, fears and resilience in ways adults overlook.

“If we want better solutions we must start with better listening – because the most powerful insights into children’s wellbeing often come from children themselves.”

He will be joined on the journey by ocean rowers Billy Taylor and Gary Hutchings, and bookseller Patrick Neale.

The team will row 700 miles and cycle 800 miles on a tandem rickshaw from Portsmouth Harbour to Scrabster in the north of Scotland.

Supporters from the worlds of sport, television, and music are backing the effort.

Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson will join the team on the first leg of the journey, rowing from Les Minquieres to Jersey.

Others supporting the mission include Countdown’s Susie Dent, former rugby player Brian Moore, snooker legends Ronnie O’Sullivan and Jimmy White, presenter Ben Sheppard, Olympic silver medallist Ed Clancy, and triathletes Alisdair and Jonny Brownlee.

The team will face waves of more than four metres high as they cross The Alderney Race.

This stretch of water is a dangerous, high-speed tidal stream between Alderney and France.

As part of the South-North Adventure, Professor Dutton is launching a petition for a National Listen to Children Day.

Among those backing the call is the Children’s Commissioner for England, Dame Rachel De Souza.

Dame Rachel said: “It’s time that we listened to the views of children and acted upon what they tell us.”

Supporters can follow the team’s progress on Instagram at South-North Adventures, or through the website at www.southnorthadventures.com.

Donations can be made via South North Adventure | givestar.

The team hopes to complete the challenge in 30 days while raising awareness and funds for children’s mental health.