Doctors' canoe challenge raises thousands for charity in memory of friend who died of brain tumour

• Reporter Tasha Kacheri caught up with Dr Tim Molitor and Dr Danny Magona on their 109-mile journey from Birmingham to Manchester.

Two doctors have raised thousands of pounds for charity by canoeing 109 miles from Birmingham to Manchester in memory of their friend who died of a brain tumour.Dr Tim Molitor and Dr Danny Magona are two of the three musketeers from University of Birmingham, alongside their friend Dr Aria Nikjooy. In November 2018, Aria, from Sale, was diagnosed with a rare brain tumour and, despite undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy, wrote a book for this young son, Eliyas.

The illustrated book, titled Eddie and the Magic Healing Stone, is loosely based on the themes of illness and cancer.

In November 2019, a year after his diagnosis, Aria was able to return to work on the paediatric rheumatology ward at the Royal Manchester on a part-time basis.

Only a few months later, however, in March 2020, his cancer came back.

He passed February 2021, leaving behind many friends and family who wish to continue on the legacy of Aria; supporting, raising awareness, and fundraising for the Brain Tumour Research Charity.

Tim and Danny took on the challenge of a five day trip from Birmingham to Manchester via the canals, the locks, and the canoe portages.

With up to 8 hours a day of canoeing, as well as the need to camp, cook and survive the 5 days in a 16 foot “Hou Canoe”, the challenge was definitely not for the faint hearted.

The journey took them from University of Birmingham Medical School, through Wolverhampton, Great Haywood, Stoke, Macclesfield and finishing in Manchester City Centre.To read more about Aria, visit the website made in his memory. Dr Tim and Dr Danny are fundraising for the Brain Tumour Charity, with the fundraising information and and details on bit.ly/canoeingforaria