ANA @50/50
(my age and river length)

I turn 50 in September. For this milestone in my life, I will be doing something poignant and support a cause that is integral to me. It is a campaign closer to home.

My team plays a crucial role in the community as we deal with Admission Avoidance. To maximise the patient’s potential for this, I am fund raising for  a project which will support existing services, e.g. Swift  Response and the Ambulance Service.

I am hoping to raise funds for us to be able to purchase a Banana Flojac. It is an innovative piece of manual handling equipment. The fallen person can be quickly and safely lifted from the floor while reducing the risk of injury to both the carer and patient.   The flat lift package enables a carer to raise a patient in supine position from the floor and transfer them using an air assisted device. This is profoundly beneficial for patients who could not tolerate being upright or sitting up.  It is also useful for bed-bound patients needing lateral transfers from a bed without having to resort to supplying bulky lifting equipment.

This piece of equipment costs about £6000 and this is the catch…. I need your support and contribution to fulfil this project. Many a time as a community nurse, I have tended patients who have fallen. We are usually at the mercy of the ambulance service to come to our aid. The NHS is over-stretched as it is. In my own little way, for my 50^th birthday, this is how I wish to help and leave a mark.  As they say, every  little help goes a long way.

For the fundraising, I will navigate River Bure from source to sea on my  paddle board (this has never been achieved before, as far as I know). This will roughly take about 3 days and 2 nights. My sister will join me on this endeavour.  She has recently taken part in the World
Police and Fire Games in Rotterdam, Netherlands where she did the Open Water Swimming event. This is a big challenge for both of us as we have never paddled this great distance before.

 River Bure is the longest of the rivers on the Norfolk Broads. Its entire length is 50 miles. It rises from an underground chalk spring near Melton Constable and flows into the sea at Gorleston.

 As parts of the river are non-navigable and off-limits to paddlers/kayakers (mainly upstream from Aylsham) due to
landowners exercising their Riparian Rights and other sections have a formal conservation designation (Site of Special Scientific Interest) and the end bit in Great Yarmouth is not allowed to small crafts as per directions of the Harbour Master;  we will tackle  this adventure in 3   modes:

•  Cycle from Melton Constable to Aylsham
•  Paddle from Aylsham to Great Yarmouth
• Walk the rest of the way from Great Yarmouth to Gorleston…finishing with a swim in the sea.

It is my sincerest hope that you will join me on this great adventure and leave your mark by contributing to this fund raising. Many many  thanks.