Hi guys! What a busy couple of weeks it's been since we unleashed our launch video. As usual we have been at the pool in Newport perfecting our paddle strokes and braces - every one of which will count when we're out on the salty blue stuff for 8-10 hours a day. We have also put together a new video showing some of our more successful snapshots from training at the pool, and some of the less auspicious stuff, in the interests of balance.
Wye? because we wanna!
Last weekend we made the trip to Monmouth with Crosey Canoe Club for our first paddle down the Wye. Amazingly, we both made it down the 14-mile run without going swimming!
Symonds Yat gave us a chance to test our braces and sweeps, which by all accounts, seem to work well given that our new helmets from Escape thankfully weren't put to the test. This weekend, we will be making the most of the Easter Bank Holiday with a trip up to Anglesey for a three-day sea kayaking course. We can't wait..partly because it'll give us the first taste of what we'll be up against during the first few legs of the trip and also we get to do a recce of the stopoff points during the challenge on the way home.
Coming soon will be a first glimpse of our new t-shirts and some very fetching vinyl for the car, aka Bully McBoatface...here he is pre-facelift.
Hi guys! So, it's been just over a year since we started training with Croesy Canoe Club and we thought we'd take the opportunity to share some of the early moments from the just pool which we hope you enjoy. Just remember, it's all in the name of raising money for the work of three fantastic charities..although donations out of pity for the two of us after seeing this video are also welcome.
Hi there! Thanks for taking the time to look at our blog. Here's our launch video for Sea
Beyond Disability, a challenge which means an incredible amount to us.
Please take a few minutes to watch, share and donate if you can!
Your support will make all the difference to the three charities we're
supporting and the people they work with.
We are two Welsh life-long friends from Carmarthen in West Wales and we will be paddling the coast of Wales this summer in a tandem kayak to raise money for Bobath Cymru, Disability Can Do and Carmarthenshire People First.
About Ben - Cerebral palsy has been a big part of my life and through my experiences I have grown to understand the importance of inclusion and disability integration.
There have been challenges and difficult times but I consider myself very lucky to have been surrounded by people who know disability is a matter of perception.
Having a disability is the best excuse anyone needs to realise their own strengths.
“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”
About Tom - I have been passionate about Disability enablement and rights for a very long time. It has shaped who I am as a person and defined my career path. I am now an Advocacy Manager for a fantastic charity, Disability Can Do.
There is no doubt that Ben has shaped my perception of Disability. Although he struggled with certain tasks and movements when we were growing up he never let his disability hold him back or stop him from doing things.
He has gone on to achieve so much in spite of his Cerebral Palsy and is a shining example of what you can achieve with a positive attitude and strong mindset.
Hopefully by completing this trip we will help to change negative, demeaning and prejudiced attitudes about disability.
You can keep up to date with how we're doing on
here, on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. We'd love to hear from you.