Thanks for popping along to the fundraising page for The Great Big Paddle! I'm on a mission to paddle a fair distance for the AV Foundation, with whom we'll be using every penny raised here to put solar panels on the roofs of East African schools, as well as developing drinking water systems in the same communities. The Foundation's admin costs are covered up by Gap Year Company Africa & Asia Venture so EVERY penny we raise goes to the cause. 

On December 19th 2009 I completed the first event of the project, a 2476km source to sea expedition along Australia's largest and most important river, the Murray. The full story can be found on our website at www.thegreatbigpaddle.com

In late April 2010 I was joined by Sebastian Terry as we became the first people to Stand Up Paddleboard across Lake Geneva. The 86km journey was hampered somewhat on the first day by strong winds but we still managed to reach Geneva safe and sound within two days. There's a video of the trip right here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaFi2EsVcFc

Between the 2nd and 8th June the very lovely Adventurer/Ocean Rower Sarah Outen and I Stand Up Paddled over 150 miles between Bath and London, reaching Tower Bridge amidst furious Thames waves! We split donations between the AV Foundation and Sarah's chosen charity, CoppaFeel. Take a look at this trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ik2A5YVNgwg

In the coming years I'll be paddling further. Plans are growing for a world record breaking distance journey on a stand up paddle board. The Daily Mail wrote an article about my unorthodox training regime, it's quite funny: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1194707/Paddling-way-work-Businessman-rides-surf-board-miles-canal-office.html

I only started paddling a kayak in January 2009, and had never been in a canoe or on a Stand Up Paddle board before April 2009, so this watery way to travel is still a fairly new sensation! But, most importantly, it's all for an incredible cause. We're not just asking for a donation, if you have the time and inclination come on over to the canal-side office in Wiltshire and I'll give you a free lesson in Stand Up Paddling. We want to make people smile with this project!

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 and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - we raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please dig deep and donate now, I promise to paddle out the miles in return for your genorosity!

Please visit www.thegreatbigpaddle.com to follow the project and the journeys...

Many thanks

Dave Cornthwaite
www.davecornthwaite.co.uk

Thanks to:
Rosie Fox, who raised in the region of £200 by paddling ten miles along the Thames in August 2009, with a picture of an alligator on her kayak to remind her of Dave's slightly bigger paddle. Great work Rosie!