PEDALO power took on Loch Ness and monstered it when a Wye Valley crew powered over its full length to raise more than £2,650 for Cancer Research Wales.

The team of four took just under eight hours to cover the 22.7-mile loch length in testing conditions, setting three new records in the process.

And the cash will boost the fund for a PhD studentship into acute myeloid leukaemia, which was set up in memory of Monmouth School for Boys’ pupil Tom Walker, who died of the disease aged 13 last year.

Tom’s dad Tim Walker from Devauden joined Monmouth Rowing Club father and son Adrian and Angus Whitehead, and Angus’ godfather Nick Roberts-Wearing for the Monster the Loch human powered race, which attracted 50 boats and was won in a new course record by an eight from the GB rowing squad in two hours four minutes.

Setting off from Fort Augustus, the crew gave its all and eventually arrived at the finish in Dores some five hours after the GB boat.

They were cheered on by Angela and Ailsa Whitehead, Debbie, Holly and Emily Walker and former Monmouth School for Girls’ student, Katie Cameron.

“It was a fantastic effort from four brave and courageous people and they completed the distance in seven hours and 40 minutes,” said Angela.

“This was one of the most inspiring and emotional days.

“It was an epic journey over the world’s most famous loch. It was harder than anything physically they had ever done before, but they kept going and encouraged each other every second of their incredible journey.”

She added: “My son Angus, at 17, has become the youngest person to row a pedalo the length of Loch Ness, while the team also became the oldest crew in total with 184 years to navigate the length of Loch Ness in a pedalo.

“And to cap it all off, the team is the first charity pedalo fundraising team to complete the whole length of Loch Ness.”

On hearing Tom’s story, the crowd at the race donated £260 to the fund.

Last year, Angus Whitehead was part of a Monmouth School for Boys’ eight which rowed in the maiden Monster the Loch event and raised almost £3,000 for Cancer Research Wales.

Research students can now apply for a three-year Tom Walker Cancer Wales PhD Studentship for Acute Myeloid Leukaemia after Tom’s family, friends and the Haberdashers’ Monmouth Schools’ community united to raise £100,000 in just 11 months.

Fund-raising is continuing and to support the Loch Ness pedalo challenge, please visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/monsterthelochfortom