Hi, I'm James 38 years of age and living in the beautiful Highlands of Scotland.

My 2020 fundraising challenge - is to prone paddle board two of Scotlands most iconic stretches of water in aid of Cardiac Risk in the Young. My aim this year is to raise money for this great cause by:

1. Attempting to set a Guinness World Record for a Prone Paddleboard crossing of Loch Ness (37km) - July (Date TBC) 

2. Crossing Scotland by Prone Paddleboard in the Great Glen Endurance Challenge (92km) - September 19th/20th 

What is Prone Paddleboarding I hear you say? - put simply its either laying or kneeling on a paddleboard and propelling yourself through the water either double or single arm. Sounds like hard work, it is! Take a look a this race in the states to see what endurance prone paddle boarding is all about https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOwCAy7SylE

An advanced thank you if you're donating - World record or not, I just hope to raise some funds for a cause close to my heart through these paddle endurance challenges. My shoulders will take an absolute pounding so any donation you are willing/able to give in support of Cardiac Risk in the Young would be greatly appreciated. I thank you in advance for any support and/or donation you can give.

If you'd like to follow the journey of my Challenges please follow the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/PronePaddleFundraiser/

Why am I paddling for C-R-Y? - The primary aim of my paddles is to raise money for Cardiac Risk in the Young. I chose this charity due to personal and family experience of arrhythmia issues. At 34 whilst training for an Ironman Triathlon, I started to experience regular arrhythmia episodes. Not knowing what it was or how to manage it was worrying. And if I'm honest it knocked me for six.

Through gradual investigation at my local Cardiology department I was diagnosed with Atrial Flutters. For me it's now manageable through medication (when needed), periodic check ups, a healthy lifestyle and good rest. If you know what you're dealing you can manage it and I want to help others be in a similar position. This is why I'm paddling in support of C-R-Y this year.

Every week in the UK at least 12 apparently fit and healthy young people die of undiagnosed cardiac conditions. So CRY works to screen and treat young people between 14 to 35 in order to diagnose and treat potentially life threatening undiagnosed conditions. Around 1.4 million people in the UK have arrhythmia issues, with 1 in 6 not treated effectively and an estimated 200,000 people living with undiagnosed arrhythmia. All support or donation to this cause is appreciated. 

Some special thank you's to: 

Kate, my partner in life and adventure for encouraging me in ridiculous challenges and for agreeing to paddle across Scotland with me in a Sea Kayak in September. 

Fletcher Sport Science - for training plans, advice and parental moral support. 

Friends Elspeth & Simon at TECHNATIVE for offering filming and photography support to help evidence the Guinness World Record attempt on Loch Ness.

Thanks to local friends who are supporting with witnessing and support crew.