A HEAVY St Helens contingent is part of a group of around 40 people taking to the water in two dragonboats on a 128-mile race along the Leeds-Liverpool Canal.

This is the first time dragonboats have taken part in the Trans Pennine Challenge event, setting off yesterday (Monday, May 2) from Liverpool city centre.

The Crusaders Dragonboat Club, which counts experienced rowers and novices as members, is raising money for Merseyside & Cheshire Blood Bikes.

The event finishes at Leeds, where the canal meets the River Aire, on May 8.

Father and son Stuart and Daniel Abel - with 14-year-old Daniel being the team's youngest member - were asked to make up numbers and have been in training for two months.

Daniel's mum Kiera said: "They wanted to make up numbers and were looking for strong sporty people to take part. My husband is a friend of Crusaders' members, so he and Daniel signed up.

"I took Daniel's younger brothers James and Ben with me to wave them off yesterday and we'll meet them at the end in Leeds."

Another team member, Sally-Ann Jackson, from Newton-le-Willows, said: "It's going to be very hard, but lots of fun.

"We're doing it for the blood bikes - many people will have benefited from their help, perhaps without even knowing it.

"We have men and women taking part in the race."

The event takes in St Helens, Wigan, Tarleton and Leigh before travelling through Blackburn, Burnley and Nelson. As it nears Leeds, the boats pass through Gargrave, Skipton, Bingley and stop off near Bradford for a regatta.

Crusaders Dragonboat Club was established in 2009 and competes in the national premier and standard leagues, as well as organising and supporting charity dragonboat events across the UK.

To donate to the fundraising for the blood bikes, go to crowdfunding.justgiving.com/beth-quirk.