My name is Vishal Patel and I paddle for the Kimbolton School canoeing team, I am currently in training for the DW kayak race and hope that you will sponsor me to help support the charity Heal.
The Devizes to Westminster kayak race is an epic test of mental strength and physical endurance, for 125 gruelling miles paddlers from around the world test themselves, discovering and breaking their limits. “Pain is temporary, Pride is forever”, the immortal words of my coach rang in my ears as I started on the first day of my voyage last year. An early, cold and frosty morning last year, in the sleepy town of Devizes 12 Kimbolton kayakers prepared themselves to put their training to the test.
A picture of the team before the race
All in high spirits we set off one at a time, oblivious to the horrors that lay ahead.
There are 4 consecutive days in the DW races, each day having a different distance, Day 1 – 34 miles, Day 2 – 36 miles, Day 3 – 38 miles, Day 4 – 17 miles. However after the age of 18 paddlers are allowed to undertake the nonstop marathon in which they paddle the whole 125 miles in one, uninterrupted attempt. Of the roughly 700 paddlers that started the race last year about 450-500 finished the race. One of these people unable to finish the race was my partner, Stephan, who had to drop out after the first day after sustaining an injury to his wrist having fallen at a lock on the slippery mud 17 miles into the first day. However he is a key example of how paddlers push themselves being still able to finish the days paddling.
The following day I was paired up with a veteran to the race and was able to achieve some very good times at the following stages.
The Juniors in the race have to stay at designated camp sites next to the river after each day where we have to cook our own food and sleep in tents, not 5* Olympic hotels unfortunately.
Every year the race finishes under Westminster bridge opposite the houses of parliament, which are the mot beautiful sight a paddler will see as it is the marking of the end of the race.
This year I am embarking on this journey again in order to raise money for Heal, as I believe that it is a very worthwhile charity to support in order to stamp out child poverty. Every great race starts with small paddle strokes, please be the first paddle strokes in the great race to stamp out child poverty and sponsor me.
Thank you very much.
Vishal Patel
