This Easter I am competing in the Devises to Westminster Canoe Race which is 125 miles including 77 portages (locks where you pick your boat up, run around and get in the other side).

I am doing this in honour of James Smythe who passed away last Easter after battling with Sarcoma, a soft tissue cancer. He was also a very accomplished paddler having raced DW 3 times and also competed at an international level as well as being an important administrator in the sport. 

He was originally diagnosed in December 2019 and after a successful operation was keen to resume training and get fit again in the summer of 2020. From that point all looked good and training hard James and I entered the National Championships held on the Thames at Reading in July 2021 where we won our age group making us National Champions (45-54), my biggest ever achievement.

Unfortunately cancer was to return and by the New Year of 2022 James was unwell once again and deteriorated and passed away but only after knowing the DW results for Easter 2022.

The last time I saw James he made me promise to never give up paddling. I am keeping that promise and it’s why a group of us who have been touched by his inspiration are competing in the DW race this year and we are raising funds for Sarcoma Uk to continue and advance their important work so that in the future a person in James’s situation is able to survive.

I will be paddling with Juan Caruncho and we have been training hard with our Sarcoma team Kat Wilson and Dan Palmer to make sure we are ready for the challenge.

I would be grateful if you could sponsor me and the team and pass on to as many others that you can to raise money and awareness.  James was an inspiration to many and we hope to make him proud with solid results because he was a fierce competitor who fought a brave fight against such a horrid disease.