For 3 years now my friend, Simon Leo and I have talked and paddled (mainly talked) about taking on the longest non-stop kayak race in the world.  As novice paddlers this was quite ridiculous, but now it's real...

On April 20th we will attempt to put the 11 months of solid training to the test with the aim of completing the Devizers to Westminster International kayak race.  125miles.  77 portages (get out, run round a lock, get back in... trust me this is way more sapping than it sounds). In 24 hours...

To qualify we have had to enter 4 progressively longer marathons over the past 8 weeks and post times that the umpires deem worthy of entry to the main event.  Happy to say that this has been nailed.

We have dug so deep through the winter months and long cold nights to get to a point where we hope to be one crew of the 48% of starters that make it to Westminster on Easter sunday morning.

We've loved every bit of it (well almost) but for me this is the hardest challenge I have ever undertaken which is why I'd like to raise some funds for others who are going through their own personal DW...

All of us have experienced mental health issues, either directly or indirectly and it has become a subject much talked about, which has to be a good thing, but there is still more to do...

As a charity, Mind needs no introduction

Mind in Kingston is a local charity (independent from national Mind) that supports people with mental health issues in and around Kingston upon Thames. Their mission: to advance the needs, views and ambitions of people with mental health issues, to promote inclusion, to challenge stigma and discrimination, to develop quality services that reflect local need and to influence local policy (this part for me is the most important!!).

Please, if you feel the urge to help push Simon and I on to Westminster and help others who are battling their own challenges, then sponsor what you can.

If you have a few minutes then watch this film (as I have every day for far too long).  It will help explain what exactly we are taking on...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vy_smznPmb4&feature=youtu.be