Hi, my name is Paul Weatherill, a member of the Watton and District Rotary Club in Norfolk. Thanks for taking the time to find out about my next fundraising venture called ShelterBoat 2. It involves a three-day voyage down the River Avon in a precarious home-made dinghy, built around a green plastic crate called a ShelterBox ...

ShelterBox (www.shelterbox.org) is an amazing relief charity founded by Rotary members in Cornwall in 2000. The mission of ShelterBox is to deliver effective practical help to people who lose their homes through disaster or conflict. All the essentials for a family unit of up to 10-12 people - including shelter, cooking equipment, bedding, tools, water purifiers - are sent in an easily transported iconic green crate called a ShelterBox. A full box costs around £600 / €680.

During lockdown Nigel, a ex RAF engineer and I built a one-person dinghy using an actual ShelterBox, with a sail and an electric outboard. In August 2021 we launched ShelterBoat 1 on the Norfolk Broads, and over a couple of days I took it downriver to Great Yarmouth, across the notorious Breydon Water, then back up the River Yare to Norwich. It was an epic voyage, with torrential rain and tidal currents; but I stayed afloat, and we raised around £2500 for ShelterBox. Check the gallery for some pictures from ShelterBoat 1!

Now I'm getting ShelterBoat ready again for a three-day voyage down the River Avon, in partnership with local Rotary Clubs. We'll launch ShelterBoat 2 at the Stratford-upon-Avon Boat Club on Saturday 29 April 2023, then after 3 days and 43 miles of sitting on the water in a precarious green crate, I'll arrive in Tewkesbury on Bank Holiday Monday, 01 May ...

My aim with ShelterBoat 2 is to raise £2500, enough to fund a ShelterBox for at least 4 families. JustGiving is the most effective way to support my ShelterBoat 2 challenge - every donation will go directly to the charity, with GiftAid if you're able, and your personal details are safe.

Perhaps you could share this page through Facebook, Twitter etc? And do please visit again to follow our progress and the voyage of ShelterBoat 2!

Thanks and God bless

Paul

ShelterBoat 2: 43 miles | 16 locks | 29 April - 01 May | target £2500