Henley’s hidden gem - The Eyot Centre.

Never underestimate what the power of kindness, the security in a sense of belonging and the power of someone showing a little faith in you can have...

I walked through the Eyot Centre doors 2 years ago feeling like the newbie, feeling unsure of myself and scared of open water. When my Dad sadly passed away within a month of being diagnosed with Cancer, my faith, my direction, my world and everything in it came crashing down.

The Eyot centre is home to the Henley Dragon Boat Racing Team, Henley Canoe Club and DofE. It is a centre which promotes youth development, wellbeing and fitness through paddle sports. The centre itself can be hired out by anyone for events and functions, but my God, do they offer way more than just that...!

Through joining Henley Dragons I’ve been pushed to challenge myself and encouraged to believe in myself. All of this has helped me get back up on my feet - I will always be grateful to them for giving me that!

I’ve made life long friends. I’ve started to like who I am again. Getting out in the dragon boat and smashing that paddle in the water makes me feel alive. I still have my wobbles, but life doesn’t seem as scary any more. Henley Dragons have become my second family.

My best friend, my dad, always taught me to be the best I can be. To give back generously, to help where you could, to always show respect and kindness to one another, regardless of someones age, gender, race or faith and to always challenge yourself. He would always tell me to be brave. He would invest his time in youth development; whether it be through sport, social activities or faith. I would have loved for him to see me race in a dragon boat, he would have been so proud. Sometimes when we paddle, I imagine him watching on the river banks with a beaming smile. I miss him every single day.

Henley Dragons has become such a major part of my life, it’s been my light in darker times. I want to give other people the opportunities to reap the social, physical and mental benefits of being part of a team sport. There is nothing more healing than being on the water with friends.

So, in my father’s memory I will be doing the Snowdon Challenge, a 17km cycle, 14km trek and 5km paddle on 12th & 13th September 2020!

Help me give back by giving a little or a lot! If anything I have shared resonates with you or you have a belief in what the centre offers, please donate generously!

We only get one life people, let us all make it count! Do not wait to do a good deed, do not wait to show someone what they mean to you! Time is precious, do it now!

#bebrave #bekind #henleydragons

Henley’s hidden gem - the Eyot Centre, a place I now call home x

With special thanks to; Chris Fowler, James Blake, Cat Cassell, Emma Corless, Damon White, Mark Roberts, Amelia Cooke, James Burgess, Kim Larsen, Richard Masey

To; Clare Anderson, Sarah Burgess (my companions on this challenge) and all the Henley Dragons Crew!

Farhan Farooqi (big brother) & Homa Hawkins (big sister)

Last but by no means least - Ishrat Farooqi (My beautiful Mum) & Mohammad Akram Farooqi (My beautiful Dad) ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️