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Rachel Blundy

Pre-school head Mark Western is embarking on an epic 250km kayak trip around Hong Kong to raise money for the blind.
The week-long trip will begin at Deep Water Bay, taking in the scenery of Wong Mau Chau and the Ninepin Islands.
If successful, Western believes he will be the first person to kayak solo around Hong Kong in seven days.
The 49-year-old father of one, who is head of school at Pokfulam Pre-School, hopes to complete the challenge in six shifts through potentially choppy waters, and a seventh day overland on foot. He will get some much-needed shut-eye at his home in Clearwater Bay in between stints.


Speaking to the South China Morning Post, he said he came up with the idea for the trip about five years ago after kayaking 1,000km around Taiwan in 2004. The challenge raised almost HK$500,000 for ­local environmental groups.
Father and son team win Kayak n Run race at Wu Kai Sha in Hong Kong
“Being a man, I love the outdoors. I love adventures, I love sports. It is in our DNA to challenge ourselves and see what test we can overcome,” he said.
“[This] has never been done before. It’s quite unique. Maybe there is a bit of ego in it. I think it should be fun.
“It can be safe but it can be very dangerous – there are a lot of big exposed areas. There are a lot of channels, currents and tides.
“When I told my friends, they said; ‘Oh Mark’s just doing another crazy project’.”
The Canadian, who has lived in Hong Kong for more than 10 years, first developed a passion for seafaring adventures at the age of 13 when his family spent a year sailing from Toronto along the American east coast and on to the Bahamas.
“[This] has never been done before. It’s quite unique.”
Mark Western, kayaker
“When I start to paddle, it is very peaceful and calming – there’s something about paddling out on the open ocean. But towards the end of the day, you get tired, it’s not so fun; [you become] hot, sweaty and fatigued,” he said.
He said it had been tricky to balance his training regime with the demands of his full-time job.
“I’m only able to get out on the water on the weekends, which is not really enough to build up the strength for this,” he said.
“But I’m doing the best that I can and have the confidence that I did a similar project in the past.”
Sea kayaking in pristine Palawan, the Philippines
Western’s Hong Kong adventure is in aid of the Fred Hollows Foundation, which works to restore the sight of millions of people in more than 25 countries.
He is encouraging donors to pledge just HK$150 each – the equivalent of five cups of coffee – to pay for treatment which could restore one person’s sight.
He hopes the challenge, which he starts on June 4, will raise HK$150,000 in total, potentially saving the sight of 1,000 people.
“I think it’s an amazing cause,” he said.
“The work that they’re doing is incredible; for so little money, to be able to restore someone’s eyesight.”
Road Test: kayaking is a fun way for the family to exercise together
The Fred Hollows Foundation, which is based in Australia but has a regional office in Hong Kong, works to provide treatment for blind people across Southeast Asia.
China suffers from the highest number of cases of avoidable blindness in the world – 17 per cent of the global total, according to the World Health Organisation.
Cataracts are the country’s leading cause of blindness, with an estimated three million Chinese awaiting surgery for the condition.
Australia busts five over HK$1.3b meth hidden in kayaks from China
Dr Anson Wong, head of the foundation’s Hong Kong office, said: “More than 32 million people worldwide are still suffering from avoidable blindness simply because they do not have the basic access to medical services or equipment. Thanks to Mark’s efforts we will be able to help more people see.”
For more information and to donate, visit www.kayak150.com. Watch the video at scmp.com/tv


Paddle challenge: pre-school head embarks on epic 250km kayak trip around Hong Kong

Mark Western kayaks through rocks near Clearwater Bay. Photo: Thomas Yau

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Mark Western aiming to complete charity challenge in just one week to raise money for the blind


Paddle challenge: pre-school head embarks on epic 250km kayak trip around Hong Kong

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Mark Western aiming to complete charity challenge in just one week to raise money for the blind

Mark Western aiming to complete charity challenge in just one week to raise money for the blind