Emma Kelty tragically lost her life, in September 2017 while attempting, to kayak the length of the Amazon river, from source to sea

I met Emma ten years ago, and we'd been great friends ever since. At this time she was teaching deaf children in London and had learnt perfect sign language, to facilitate this. She wasn't content with being 'just a teacher' a hard enough job in itself, and would go above and beyond, to help all the children she taught. She finally, achieved her goal of becoming headmistress, of a school which she helped, through a lot of hard work, turn from struggling to outstanding, of which she was really proud.

Following the death of her much loved father, to cancer in 2014 "I'm an orphan now cath" she decided to quit her job and finally take some time, to pursue her own dreams in life. First, this was the Pacific coast trail in the states followed by two sled pulling treks to the South Pole, the last a solo epic. This involved conditions, of up to -50 c, whiteout blizzards all while dragging a heavy pulk and enduring three months of solitude. Alongside this there were numerous ultramarathons, skydives.... Jon o' groats to land end by bike during which, she stopped over in Kendal, with me and russ. ''How was going over shap emma? "

'' not that bad really.." a typical Emma understatement.

Her latest adventure, was a huge challenge, considering she was new to kayaking, but she threw herself into it with typical enthusiasm. By early summer, she was heading to South America, her training completed.

I'd been following her progress closely, with regular updates on facebook and had messaged her, on the day she went missing.

The shocking details of what happened that terrible day, have made worldwide news and caused untold anguish, to Emma's family and friends.

She was raising money for three charities -

Cancer Research - Emma had also, tragically lost her mum to cancer as a teenager and wanted to raise money for research and developing new treatments

Teach Africa - funding secondary education places, in the poorest areas helping children escape poverty

Cystic Fibrosis Research - helping find a cure for this devastating genetic illness

In Emma's memory, I'll be doing the Bob Graham round, on the 28th October - 42 peaks in 66 miles

please see link below

http://www.bobgrahamclub.org.uk/

First done in 1932, by bob graham, a keswick hotelier at the age of 42 which is also by coincidence my advanced age, though he'll have been a damn sight quicker than i will be.

Please sponsor me, to help raise money for Emma's charities and keep the memory of this great lass alive. Emma was an exceptionally brave and kind soul and would have been the first, to help out anyone in need.

Rest in peace Emma

You will be sorely missed