Galashiels man pushes kayak up Eildon Hills to raise money to organise free music festival GalaFest

• Video report by Bairbre Holmes

A man from the Scottish borders is completing an unusual challenge in a bid to raise money to put on a free music festival.

Bill Jeffrey, from Galashiels, is pushing a boat around the town and will finish by attempting to get the five-metre long fiberglass kayak to the top of the Eildons.

Mr Jeffrey hopes completing the challenge will raise enough funds for him to put on a community music festival, GalaFest, that everyone can enjoy without having to worry about cost.

Mr Jeffrey told ITV News he'd been attracting a lot of attention.

"It's absolutely brilliant, people are double taking as it's not everyday you see a boat coming down the high street," he said.

"It's amazing, people are ready for something like this as they've been locked up with Covid and they're just wanting things to happen."

The aim is to raise £5,000 to put on the festival which will showcase local talent, something close to his heart as his four children are musicians.

His son Brian said: "I used to be in a few bands and stuff like that but it's all stopped after Covid.

"There's has not been any live gigs in Gala for long enough so this is really going to make a difference.

"The main thing is to get people into the park and get them enjoying things. Nobody has any money right now so making a free festival is great for everybody in the town."

A six foot banner has been made for the yellow kayak which local businesses can also pay to advertise on.

Mr Jeffrey will complete the final part of his fundraising challenge, by pushing the kayak up the middle Eildon, on Sunday 28 August.

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