An Alderley Edge based Cosmetic Doctor is attempting to circumnavigate Britain with a small motor strapped to his back. Having applied to Guinness World Records for the first paramotor marathon round Britain, he will be flying for a minimum of four to six hours per day - he cannot fly in the dark or when it is raining or too windy.
Dr Paul Cronin, who runs The Eternal Youth clinic on London Road said "I have always been fond of getting my adrenaline going. It will be hard. It will be fun. It will be worth doing.
"I will take off from near my home, fly to the coast, turn right or left depending on the weather of the day and then try to fly as far as I can round the coast of Britain. I have 21 days and it is just technically possible for me to go the whole way round. However paramotoring is extremely weather dependant and to complete the full journey would require roughly 20 days with no rain and reasonable winds. So a little bit of luck will be required."
The 2000 mile route has been carefully chosen to avoid any dangerous airspace. The maximum duration for each single flight will be about 2 to 3 hours so he will have to find good places to land and take off from along the way. Dr Cronin will travel at an air speed of roughly 25mph whilst the ground speed is very wind dependant so could be anywhere between 19mph to 40mph. He will be joined by a support vehicle which will provide his petrol, maintenance for the gear, food and somewhere to sleep at night.
Dr Cronin explained "The main aim being to generate as much income as possible for the Christie Hospital in Manchester, whilst attempting to do something no one else has ever done before. The point is I am about to be fifty and I want to prove to myself and my friends that I’m not dead yet.
"My mum passed away six years ago from lung cancer and the Christie Hospital in Manchester was the first hospital I ever worked in. Both were very good to me when I started out so it seems fitting to try to generate interest and income for this very good cause. I’m sure my mum would have approved.
"Mum was always interested in my hair brained schemes, and she always instilled in me the wish to ‘give it a go.’ She was immensely proud at my graduation and had always been helpful with advice as my career progressed. It was my mum who suggested I should go off and learn to do Botox and she was an often very willing guinea pig of any new techniques I had learnt.
"I know she will be cheering me on during my flights and she would be delighted to see all the money we can raise."
Paul Cronin will begin his journey on Saturday August 14th. You can make a donation online at justgiving.com.
