City of Bath College’s management accountant Steve Hewson will be putting his paddle power to the test with a gruelling 125-mile kayak charity challenge.
The self-confessed kayaking beginner is gearing up to put his skill and stamina to the test by paddling from Devizes in Wiltshire to Westminster in London.
It is expected to take about 90,000 paddle strokes to complete the four-day journey along the Kennet & Avon Canal and the River Thames.
But Steve is determined he can “push past the pain” to build up his paddling distances over the next few weeks.
He currently trains twice a week and hopes his practice will pay off in the huge endurance test from August 8th to August 11th.
Steve will be joined by school friend Martyn Bangham and the two 32-year-olds will paddle their 12ft single kayaks up to 37.5 miles a day.
The former Chew Valley School students are hoping to raise more than £1,000 for Arthritis Research UK as Martyn has suffered from Rheumatoid Arthritis since a young age. Martyn is a Business Intelligence Consultant at NorthgateArinso.
Steve said: “We wanted to do something a little different and we somehow came up with the idea of kayaking.
“I’ve never really done much kayaking before, but now I’m doing about 15 miles in one go and I’ve got the bug for it. I have no choice really; I have 125 miles to paddle.”
He added: “I’m nervous because it’s a huge challenge and I know it will be physically and mentally challenging, but I’m looking forward to it.”
Steve said they had decided to complete the sponsored event after being inspired by the Devizes to Westminster International Canoe Race.
Their friends and family think they are “completely mad” but they have carefully planned out the journey with overnight hotel stays en route in Devizes, Newbury, Marlow and Kingston.
But it will not only be their fitness levels that are being tested, as they have to carry all their own food and drink and be ready to deal with any kind of weather.
They will also come face-to-face with just under 80 locks and have a mile-long tunnel to navigate.
Steve said: “At times things are going to be really challenging especially once we reach Teddington on day four where we come up against the tide and cargo boats. Fingers crossed we don’t capsize!
“We have to navigate just under 80 locks which will involve getting out of the water and carry our 20kg kayaks plus supplies between 10 to 50 yards, but that’s just all part of the challenge.”
To sponsor Steve and Martyn on their Devizes to Westminster kayaking challenge go to http://www.justgiving.com/2meninaK2
For further information on Arthritis Research UK, visit http://www.arthritisresearchuk.org/