In August this year I will be taking on a 100km kayaking and hiking challenge in Greenland to raise money for Charlie's Beach School in Exmouth. This is going to be a big physical challenge as it will involve long days of kayaking, hiking and camping out in some challenging temperatures in very remote terrain, however it is all for an incredibly special cause.

In April 2024, in memory of Charlie Duignan, my friends David & Yvette set up ‘The Charlie Duignan Foundation’ as a registered charity. The main purpose of the charity is to create a beach school in Exmouth.

The beach school aims primarily to help children, both local and visiting, by giving them access to the beach and seaside in a positive, fun and informative way. The vision is to get as many children interested in visiting the beach as possible, particularly those children who have not been given that opportunity before. Charlie had a real love for sea life and the beach. He loved going to our local beach in Exmouth to play and do a litter pick - a free treasure hunt with the added benefit of doing good by cleaning up the beach and sea for others and helping Mother Nature. The sessions run by the Beach school include - beach arts & crafts, rock pool rambles, beach clean-ups, beach games/sports sessions, and lessons on sea swimming & water safety.

In setting up the beach school Charlie’s legacy will benefit not only his friends and family but the wider community in Exmouth and beyond for generations to come.