On Easter Saturday, my good friend Alex Broadley and I are going to honour my promise to one of my closest friends who sadly passed away last Christmas, Rob Davidson, and we're going to attempt the Devizes to Westminster International Canoe race.

This epic endurance race is 125 miles long.  We hope to complete it in around 24 hours with us rolling over the finish line outside the Houses of Parliament.

We’ve been preparing for the race since August last year and although we’re both inexperienced paddlers, we’re adamant that we’re going to give it everything we've got. Although we’ve both previously done long distance triathlons, the race is going to push us to the limits as a team when it comes to dealing with fatigue, resilience and mental stamina.

The reason for attempting the DW is a very personal one. One of my closest friends and old university flat mate, Rob passed away in December 2016 having been diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease. I saw first-hand what real courage looks like and Rob’s good humour and spirit will serve as a lasting example of how to deal with adversity in life with dignity and honour. My last ever conversation with Rob involved me telling him that I was going to attempt the DW for his new foundation, which is The Robert Sinclair Davidson Foundation. Rob recognised that living with a terminal illness, or caring for someone who is facing a dramatic change in their circumstances can put a massive strain on finances. The Robert Sinclair Foundation exists to help with money worries and grants for specialist equipment to provide some much needed respite.

With Olympic medalists like Steve Redgrave failing to complete the race a few years ago, neither Al nor I are under any illusion when it comes to the gravity of the challenge ahead of us. But I intend on honoring my word and giving my hardest challenge to date everything we’ve got. 

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