Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

On Sunday 29 September 2019 I will paddle with my friend Mary for 12 miles across the Thames on my trusted inflatable stand up paddle board. It will be an amazing day, paddling past some of London's most iconic sights - you can view the route here: https://regatta.london/route-map - hopefully I'll manage to lift my nose up at the right times! We'll be doing the route from Putney to Big Ben and back. 

While I do a few stand up paddle races throughout the year, they are usually around 5k or 5 miles, so this will be quite a step up. I'll be posting updates on how training is going on this page. Thankfully the race will coincide with the routine planned closure of the Thames Barrier and the river will be closed to traffic, so no risk of being mowed down by the MBNA Thames Clippers at least!

I've chosen to fundraise for Thames21, a charity that focuses on running activities to help clean up local rivers - that is close to my heart as I get so much enjoyment and tranquility from paddling on London's canals, and it's heartbreaking to see little coots use discarded plastics for their nests. Here's their spiel (you can also find out more on their website: www.thames21.org.uk): 

"We reconnect people to nature by helping them enjoy, protect and enhance their local rivers. Whether it’s the Thames or one of its many tributaries, we offer inspiring ways for communities to get down to their local riverbank. Rivers, canals and stretches of open water are the perfect antidote to urban living – which is one of the reasons thousands of volunteers help us rewild and protect them every year. Our aim is to rebuild the relationship between communities and their rivers; restoring river health and boosting wellbeing and community cohesion in the process."

If you can spare a little something to help me raise funds for this charity, that would be amazing - I'm paying for my participation in the race so all donations will go straight to Thames21. You are also most welcome to leave a message of encouragement and/or head to the Thames on 29 September to cheer us on (we'll need it)!

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

Now I better start training...

All the best,

Victoire