In at the deep end with Gers

Apr 26 2011 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

LIFELONG Rangers fan Christine Cook got up close and personal with her Ibrox heroes as they took the plunge for a charity rafting challenge.

At the end of the season, manager Walter Smith and his backroom team are bracing themselves for an extreme white water rafting fundraiser for the Rangers Charity Foundation.

The Gers boss, who bows out in the summer paving the way for assistant Ally McCoist, is bracing himself for the sort of experience that will make Sunday’s Old Firm confrontation look like a Sunday afternoon picnic.

The Rangers group will be ploughing their way through 75 miles of perilous and icy rapids on Idaho’s wild Middle Fork river from May 16-22.

And closer to home they got a taste of what lies in store, courtesy of Perthshire adventure firm Nae Limits.

Joining them for a day on the Tay was Perth and Kinross Council active schools co-ordinator Christine Cook, after enjoying a competition win in the Daily Record.

A Glaswegian now living on Perth’s Western Edge, she had always fancied sampling the thrills and spills of white water rafting.

“It was a fantastic experience,” she said.

“The Nae Limits team were great and really know their stuff. The fact I got to join the Rangers lads made it even more memorable.”

Smith will be joined by one-time St Johnstone striker McCoist, coaches Ian Durrant and Kenny McDowall and chief executive Martin Bain for next month’s ‘Ibrox to Idaho’ fundraiser.

Christine said: “After being introduced to rafting on the Tay, where we experienced class three rapids, they were a bit alarmed to learn there will be serious class five rapids in Idaho.

“By the look on their faces I’m not sure they realised quite what they were signing up for!

“It’s not just the river that represents a danger. They will be wild camping and can’t wear deodorant in case it attracts bears.

“I found myself sharing a boat with Ally and Ian so you can imagine the banter that was flying.

“The Nae Limits team made sure we were deliberately flung into the river, which was freezing cold.

“I pulled Ian out and at one stage he was lying on top of me. I heard Ally quip that he was very close to a lawsuit!

“We started off at Aberfeldy and worked out way down to the rapids at Grandtully in 90 minutes.

“It was exhilarating towards the end when the water was getting rougher. It was a shame it didn’t last longer but it was good training for the Rangers team.

“They are all still pretty fit and they are very driven guys so I’m sure they will complete the US challenge.”

Christine, who was out canoeing on Loch Tay at the weekend, has her own fundraising target in her sights, with a five-strong Perth team keen to raise funds for GB boccia starlet Joshua Rowe, the teenage cerebral palsy sufferer from Crieff who is hoping to make the 2012 Olympic team.

She is being joined by Caroline Lawrie, Carline Ness, Claire Mulquheeney and Karen Toll in a series of challenges over the summer.

“We are tackling a mini-triathlon and plan to walk the Cateran Trail in 24 hours,” said Christine.

“Joshua has a very real chance of making the team for the London Olympics but the costs of travelling to training camps in England are really mounting-up for the family.

“We are keen to help him make his dream reality.”

* ‘Ibrox to Idaho’ is raising money for St Andrew’s First Aid, the Prostate Cancer Charity and UNICEF.