A 204-mile journey by river and canal, 113 locks and a mile-long dark tunnel lie between four St John's students and the start of Michaelmas Term.
Charlie Swinfen, Stefan Narinian, Beth Erskine, and Ryan Vowles will cover an average of 19 miles a day punting across country to support Alzheimer’s Society.
Travelling from Oxford to Northampton, Peterborough and Ely, the team hopes to arrive back at College in time for the start of MichaelmasTerm, almost two decades after St John’s students last completed the journey.
The route includes 113 locks, rivers and canals, with Braunston Tunnel expected to provide the biggest test. Braunston Tunnel is on the Grand Union Canal, west Northamptonshire. Stretching for more than a mile, the 15-foot-wide tunnel is unlit, leaving the team to navigate through darkness with only tunnel lights to guide them.
Charlie Swinfen, President of St John’s Punt Society, said: “We like punting and we like a challenge and this seemed like a great opportunity to raise money for charity. We’re all good punters, but covering nearly 19 miles a day is very different from an afternoon on the River Cam. Braunston Tunnel will probably be the toughest part of the journey, but we’re also looking forward to it.”
The intrepid students will camp along the route and stay with family and friends when they can. They are preparing for variable weather conditions and will carry paddles for stretches where a punt pole alone isn’t enough.
Punt Society members, alumni, family, and friends will support the crew along the route, while the waterways community is also likely to lend its support before the quartet is welcomed back to St John’s at the start of Michaelmas Term.
Supporters can donate via the team's JustGiving page
The team will be sharing regular updates on Instagram at @puntingforalzheimers,where supporters can follow their progress and find out where to cheer them on along the route.
