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It's Rockall or bust for Buckie's brave fund-raiser Cam


By Alan Beresford

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A BUCKIE man is hoping to raise large sums for charity – by perching on top of Rockall for a week.

Cam Cameron is getting ready to spend a week on Rockall to raise money for charity.
Cam Cameron is getting ready to spend a week on Rockall to raise money for charity.

Cam Cameron, who now lives in Wiltshire, is hoping to take a team of naval officers to the rock – which sits 200 miles off the coast of Scotland in the Atlantic Ocean – next June to coincide with the Queen's platinum jubilee. Their bold aim is to raise £1 million.

The former Gordon Highlander and current Royal Navy Reservist, where he is Senior Training Officer with the rank of Lieutenant – is aiming to raise cash for a wide variety of charities.

Mr Cameron said: "We're trying to spread the load a bit between big and small charities.

"There isn't a finalised list yet but we've got the Ocean Youth Trust Scotland, various veterans' charities and mental health charity Mind so far.

"Our £1 million is ambitious although we'll be delighted with whatever we can raise – the more the better.

"The support and generosity we've been shown has been amazing. There's been terrific support from the local community in Buckie, people who I haven't seen in 30 years have been in touch.

"Civilian firms, including the offshore sector, have been magnificent with their support."

Accompanying Mr Cameron on his adventure are Nick Hancock, who currently holds the record for staying on Rockall of 43 days, and Royal Naval Reserve officer Lt Deborah Witt.

"About 15 to 20 years ago I remember looking at Rockall and thinking 'That's something I'd like to do'.

"Nick then did his record breaking stay on Rockall, which is an amazing story.

"I put it aside, though, and never really thought about it again until a while ago when we had a guy who came to speak to our naval training unit in Bristol about the Royal Navy team who rowed across the Atlantic. It got me thinking and I reckoned we could do something like that.

"I wanted to do something different that would catch the eye so I thought 'We could go to Rockall, nobody goes there, and stay there for a week!'."

It will most certainly not be a holiday for the intrepid trio.

Rockall in deceptively calm conditions. Picture: Maryp279
Rockall in deceptively calm conditions. Picture: Maryp279

Mr Cameron said: "It takes about 24 hours just to get there and when we do we'll have to get on a rib and jump off it when we get to the rock.

"We've then got a 17m climb ahead of us to get to the ledge where we'll be camped and we'll have to haul all of our equipment up there. The space we'll be occupying is just 3m x 1.4m so there isn't much room to spare for the three of us.

"While we're there we're going to have to make our own water and take ration packs for food.

"It's not going to be easy, that's for sure"

However, the group do not intend to sit around and Mr Cameron is urging schools and other organisations interested in conducting experiments, for example weather projects, to get in touch. They are also hoping to post daily blogs and podcasts from their precarious perch, assuming the solar panels they are taking works as it should.

While planning for the stay over May 30-June 5, 2022 is going apace, there is one vital loose end to be tied up on which the whole mission hinges.

Mr Cameron explained: "Basically, we need someone with a boat to give us a lift out there and back.

"Originally we had hoped to get a lift from the navy but unfortunately they're so hard tasked these days they couldn't guarantee anything.

"So, if anyone has a boat – ideally a converted fishing boat – and fancies a bit of adventure, I'd be delighted to hear from them.

"We'll obviously pay for the diesel and the crew so no-one will be out of pocket.

"Also, if anyone has a Buckie Thistle flag I could take with me, that'd be great. I'll be wearing my Jags top when I'm there."

Anyone who thinks they can help the expedition team or would like the team to conduct experiments for their school or institution, should get in touch with Mr Cameron via his email at freuchny@gmail.com

For more information and updates on the fund-raiser, visit https://www.rockall2022.org/


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