Avoch lad who lost dad at sea meets fellow RNLI charity fundraiser
CHARITY walker Alex Ellis-Roswell who is engaged in an epic coastal challenge to raise money for the RNLI, has met up with a young fundraiser from Avoch whose dad was lost at sea.
Alex was passing by Fortrose Cafe on the High Street in the village when he met Keri-Marie Gibson, who works there.
She told him about her son Keiran, whose father Craig was swept overboard into the North Sea from a fishing trawler last year when he was just 25 years old.
An extensive search in challenging conditions involving helicopters, a lifeboat and aeroplanes diverted from a Nato exercise, was stood down after nine hours and Mr Reid was reported missing, presumed dead.
After the tragedy Keiran set out to raise money for the lifeboat at North Kessock and managed to bring in £700.
Hearing about Keiran’s efforts, Alex told Keri-Marie that he would be happy to meet up with the youngster.
His mum said: “Keiran was full of beans even after his football practice in Inverness.
“He had Alex racing back and fore with him in the North Kessock lifeboat car park.
“Alex said people like Keiran inspired him to keep on walking.
“Keiran had lots of questions for Alex but was having so much fun when they met each other that he forgot to ask them all.
“He’s been telling everyone how amazing Alex is and says when he’s grown up he wants to do something big for the RNLI.”
Alex started his 9500-mile walk around the coast of England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland and the Isle of Man on August 3, 2014. He has 1500 miles left to walk.
At the beginning of last week he stopped off at the Kessock Lifeboat Station, where he was welcomed by the volunteer crew.
He was able to celebrate a milestone having reached his fundraising target of £50,000, which he has now doubled to £100,000.
Alex decided to walk the coastline of Britain after the death of his father, Sir Raymond Ellis, at Christmas 2013.
He sold his business and gave up his flat to undertake the challenge, with 8000 miles under his boots on reaching the Black Isle.
