Donation protected
ABOUT US
We are the ACIS Paddlers, a team of 3 Trainee Counsellors working towards supporting ACIS (Aberdeen Information & Counselling Service) by volunteering with the service after our training is successfully completed. ACIS has been supporting the Aberdeen Community since 1983 and is mainly funded by donations. ACIS offers a therapeutic space in which individuals can come to terms with and deal with difficulties that they might be facing, in a positive way, allowing them to move forward with their lives. This is a critical service for those who are in need but who are unable to access private counselling. We all appreciate how extremely important good mental health is but never more so right now with the challenges we face following the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown restrictions. Like everything else our training has been suspended due to social distancing. In order to take a positive approach and at the same time support the service we are all passionate about, we decided to make the most of our free time by doing some fundraising!
THE CHALLENGE
We are calling it the ACIS Loch Ness Challenge which will take place on Saturday 12th September 2020, weather and lockdown restrictions allowing. We chose Loch Ness because it is one of the most beautiful parts of Scotland and we believe that spending time with nature is beneficial for de-stressing and mental wellbeing, particularly when combined with any form of exercise. Additionally, we have each given ourselves a personal challenge by learning a new sport that we can take up as a hobby later to help us to stay both mentally and physically fit. We have taken up Stand Up Paddle Boarding (SUP) and have been training at Knockburn Loch Sports Academy where we are all members. Jason and John have been fantastic sharing their knowledge and experience on what kit to buy and generally getting behind us 100%.
Our aim is to Stand-up Paddle down Loch Ness from Foyers to Dores which is approx. 12 miles and will take an estimated time of between 6 and 8 hours. Loch Ness is the second largest Scottish loch by surface area at 56 km2 (22 sq. miles) after Loch Lomond, but due to its great depth, it is the largest by volume in the British Isles. Its deepest point is 230 m (126 fathoms; 755 ft), making it the second deepest loch in Scotland after Loch Morar. Nature can be stunningly beautiful but can also become a hostile environment on the turn of a sixpence especially if the Scottish weather decides to change! The water temperature in Loch Ness rarely rises above 6° even in Summer so this is no small undertaking particularly as none of us are experienced paddlers. But what we lack in technique we make up for in courage and determination. We are currently training several times a week at Knockburn Loch with an experienced Training Instructor - John Nicklin of JGN Personal Training - who is also going to be our Safety Guide on the day and who has generously donated his time and expertise. We also have a safety vehicle driven by Craig Burnett who has also generously donated his time. He will be tracing our route by road meeting us at stop-off points to make sure we have assistance if needed and also to have access to hot drinks and food or anything else we might need along the way.
Safety comes first and foremost so we do have a back up plan and an alternative route if the Loch Ness conditions prove too challenging or pose a safety risk.
THE TARGET
The average cost of a private counselling session is around £40 and generally most people require between 6 and 10 sessions. Our goal is to raise enough money to provide 10 sessions for 10 people which equates to £4,000. Please help us achieve our target. Or if you are free on the 12th come and cheer us on!
Follow us on Instagram at "acispaddlers" where you will find photos and updates on our progress.
THANK YOU – WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT
We are the ACIS Paddlers, a team of 3 Trainee Counsellors working towards supporting ACIS (Aberdeen Information & Counselling Service) by volunteering with the service after our training is successfully completed. ACIS has been supporting the Aberdeen Community since 1983 and is mainly funded by donations. ACIS offers a therapeutic space in which individuals can come to terms with and deal with difficulties that they might be facing, in a positive way, allowing them to move forward with their lives. This is a critical service for those who are in need but who are unable to access private counselling. We all appreciate how extremely important good mental health is but never more so right now with the challenges we face following the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown restrictions. Like everything else our training has been suspended due to social distancing. In order to take a positive approach and at the same time support the service we are all passionate about, we decided to make the most of our free time by doing some fundraising!
THE CHALLENGE
We are calling it the ACIS Loch Ness Challenge which will take place on Saturday 12th September 2020, weather and lockdown restrictions allowing. We chose Loch Ness because it is one of the most beautiful parts of Scotland and we believe that spending time with nature is beneficial for de-stressing and mental wellbeing, particularly when combined with any form of exercise. Additionally, we have each given ourselves a personal challenge by learning a new sport that we can take up as a hobby later to help us to stay both mentally and physically fit. We have taken up Stand Up Paddle Boarding (SUP) and have been training at Knockburn Loch Sports Academy where we are all members. Jason and John have been fantastic sharing their knowledge and experience on what kit to buy and generally getting behind us 100%.
Our aim is to Stand-up Paddle down Loch Ness from Foyers to Dores which is approx. 12 miles and will take an estimated time of between 6 and 8 hours. Loch Ness is the second largest Scottish loch by surface area at 56 km2 (22 sq. miles) after Loch Lomond, but due to its great depth, it is the largest by volume in the British Isles. Its deepest point is 230 m (126 fathoms; 755 ft), making it the second deepest loch in Scotland after Loch Morar. Nature can be stunningly beautiful but can also become a hostile environment on the turn of a sixpence especially if the Scottish weather decides to change! The water temperature in Loch Ness rarely rises above 6° even in Summer so this is no small undertaking particularly as none of us are experienced paddlers. But what we lack in technique we make up for in courage and determination. We are currently training several times a week at Knockburn Loch with an experienced Training Instructor - John Nicklin of JGN Personal Training - who is also going to be our Safety Guide on the day and who has generously donated his time and expertise. We also have a safety vehicle driven by Craig Burnett who has also generously donated his time. He will be tracing our route by road meeting us at stop-off points to make sure we have assistance if needed and also to have access to hot drinks and food or anything else we might need along the way.
Safety comes first and foremost so we do have a back up plan and an alternative route if the Loch Ness conditions prove too challenging or pose a safety risk.
THE TARGET
The average cost of a private counselling session is around £40 and generally most people require between 6 and 10 sessions. Our goal is to raise enough money to provide 10 sessions for 10 people which equates to £4,000. Please help us achieve our target. Or if you are free on the 12th come and cheer us on!
Follow us on Instagram at "acispaddlers" where you will find photos and updates on our progress.
THANK YOU – WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT
Co-organizers (3)
Gillian Burnett
Organizer
Linda Gibb
Co-organizer
Maria Hatchett
Co-organizer