23 October 2012 Last updated at 12:05 ET

Birmingham to Worcester cancer charity narrowboat pull begins

Six men have started a fund-raising challenge to pull a 12-tonne narrowboat from Birmingham to Worcester in a bid to raise thousands of pounds for a cancer charity.

Maths teacher Neil Evans and five friends are taking on the 30-mile boat pull in aid of Cancer Research UK.

The route will take five days, ending at Diglis Basin on Saturday.

Mr Evans, 43, said he had been inspired to take on the task after watching the London Marathon last year.

The team set off from Gas Street Basin in Birmingham at 10:00 BST.

Mr Evans, from Bewdley, Worcestershire, said the team had set a target of £5,000 but were hoping to raise as much as double that amount.

He said: "We said we wanted to raise £5,000 but the dream would be £10,000.

"My grandmother died from breast cancer 15 years ago so I have always wanted to do something to raise money for this cause."

The men will sleep overnight on the narrowboat and will be stopping frequently with their collection buckets along the route.