I am deeply disappointed and saddened that I have been unable to finish circumnavigating Great Britain by canoe after setting off on the 2,500 mile journey on 15 May 2013 from Knowle Beach in Dorset. I did get about 1/4 of the way and was just about to leave Wales behind when I became incapacitated by back pain, was unable to walk and had to give up. Having suffered an 86% burn 20 years ago, I am no stranger to pain but I was simply physically unable to continue.

I embarked on this challenge as I owe my life to several surgeons / doctors / friends / health workers who helped me at various stages of my recovery from my burn injury. I feel I have a serious karmic debt to pay, and wanted to do so by raising money to contribute to the efforts of Dan's Fund For Burns (www.dansfundforburns.org) to support other burns survivors.

Having won 13 national titles in the past paddling surf canoes, I had been thinking about canoeing around Great Britain for quite some time. So, I decided to put thoughts into action!

I had planned for this adventure to take about 8 weeks but strong adverse winds quickly put me behind schedule and put extra strain on my back. I feel more at home on water than on dry land, having canoed extensively, sailed across the Atlantic 4 times, and been round the Med twice, so I had no worries about the water, but the weather is always unpredicatble. After my burn injury, I spent 10 weeks in intensive care, with liver, kidney, and lung failure and although I was lucky to make it, I believed my determination to survive would stand me in good stead for this trip, which it did. I trained hard to attain the level of fitness required but there was nothing I could have done to prevent or prepare me for what occurerd.

I hope that followers enjoyed checking my progress on my blogs via this link. 

Thanks to all those who took the time to visit my JustGiving page and for supporting my fundraising efforts for Dan's Fund for Burns. I am deeply grateful.

Of course, if anyone would like their donation refunded because I did not complete my challenge, please contact Dans Fund for Burns via the website and this will be arranged.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, JustGiving sends your money directly to the Dan's Fund for Burns. JustGiving also makes sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on eligible donations made by UK taxpayers. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - more is raised, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the Charity