I am very proud to be part of the Aysgarth community. It is a group of people doing our very best to ensure the success for all the pupils we teach. However, this community is even stronger when we support each other outside the classroom and extend that support to other communities.

We are always encouraging our pupils to take on personal challenges in and outside of the classroom so I wanted to challenge myself to do something that took me out of my comfort zone physically and mentally. Having taken up paddle boarding four years ago, I wanted to take this pleasure pursuit and challenge myself. The paddleboard online community alerted me to the fact that there is a coast-to-coast paddleboard challenge that starts in Liverpool and ends - 163 miles of river and canals later - in Goole. The challenge is not only to paddle all 163 miles but to complete the route in just 11 days. Since 2019 only 11 people have completed the challenge so I was drawn to the fact that it is not a usual challenge either.

Once the challenge was set, I looked for a charity to support through my endeavour and I did not need to look far because within the Aysgarth community is a wonderfully inspiring young man called Jago. 13 year old Jago was born with a port wine stain birthmark covering one third of his face. His presentation in the school chapel to his peers detailing the 35 operations he has had since birth and his desire to help others in a similar situation gave me the inspiration and charity I was looking for.

Starting on the 27 March and aiming to complete by 7 April, I hope that you will support my ambitious endeavour by donating to Changing Faces.

I will be supported along the challenge by my friend and fellow paddleboard enthusiast, Sarah Chisem.

You can follow our journey by clicking here