SUP against Cancer -Paddleboarding 296km in 7 days

Hey,

My name is Jon and I'm an Outdoor Activities Instructor up in beautiful Yorkshire.

In early Spring of 2024 I plan to Stand Up Paddle Board the length of the Canal networks that surround the Pennines, otherwise known as the Outer Pennine Ring to raise money for Stand Up to Cancer.

The Outer Pennine Ring is approximately 296 kilometres long and I intend to paddle the entirety unsupported, carrying everything that I would need with me on the board, in a total of 7 days, wild camping under my poncho and on my board and documenting the entire process to spread the word about the work of this charity and what it means to me.

Why am I going to do this?

Earlier in 2023 my fiancé and mother of my little girl was diagnosed with Breast Cancer.

We were lucky to catch it when we did, but not so lucky to be joining the many thousands of people who are being diagnosed with cancer in their younger years.

At the time of setting up this Go Fund Me page my fiancé has had three surgeries, one to remove the original lump and sentinel lymph nodes, the second as cancer was too close to the margins and the third a full mastectomy when cancer still remained in the breast tissue removed. We are now going through Chemotherapy and hoping to be all finished by New Years, ready for fresh start and beginning.

Also within the last month we received news that my Uncle, who had been in and out of hospital and ICU's for the past few years, had passed away. He also had been diagnosed with Cancer and had been battling it for years but unfortunately never got to finish his treatment of chemotherapy because of constant infections.

Why Stand Up to Cancer?

Stand Up to Cancer is a fund raising campaign of Cancer Research UK which has been making strides in accelerating progress into life saving Cancer treatments and improving the outcomes of many thousands of Cancer patients in the UK. With more funding they will be able to discover more effective ways to treat and even potentially finally find a cure for Cancer.

Cancer Research UK is striving to improve situations and help those affected by this horrible disease and I couldn't be more grateful for the assistance, support and treatment that is being provided to my fiancé with her cancer. I wish more people to be able to benefit from the great work this and other cancer charities are doing!

How will the funds be used?

100% of the money that is raised through this page and my efforts on the journey will go straight to the charity and will be sent to them upon reaching our target or after I have completed the 296 kilometre journey, whichever is latest.

In an ideal world I would love to be able to raise £10,000 but we have set our sights on £2,000 for the time being, an achievable target that I do hope we beat with ease.

Please help us to support this charity and give others the support and treatment that is needed.