Don't forget to follow us on social media!
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Update April 12th 2021
Made it on to the cover of the Midweek Herald... National paper next time?
Click here to read the article:
https://www.midweekherald.co.uk/news/roy-beal-seaton-kayak-challenge-7869134
Made it on to the cover of the Midweek Herald... National paper next time?
Click here to read the article:
https://www.midweekherald.co.uk/news/roy-beal-seaton-kayak-challenge-7869134
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UPDATE April 8th 2021
It doesn't matter if it is a single bottle floating upon the sea or there are bags of litter left behind by visitors to the seaside, this rubbish does NOT belong in the natural world. Please either avoid single use plastics, recycle them or at at least bin them, The main reason for this challenge is to highlight this issue, educate the uninformed and hopefully inspire others to make a difference. |
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Update March 28th 2021
New video about why Roy is attempting this Top Down Kayak Challenge. Official press release going out today too! Read it here (PDF file) |
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Update 5th March 2021
The official press release will be going out at the end of the month. We will be working with a few charities as follows:
Keep Britain Tidy. As the proposed start date is near their Great British Spring Clean, it would be rather remiss if we didn't take advantage of this and promote beach cleaning, litter picking and the effects on the planet if we don't reduce, recycle or reuse. More on this soon. KBT have been around a long time and their logo is an iconic part of British history - if you're Roy's age you''ll remember the adverts from when you were a child.
Plan B Charity. This charity was setup after the loss of Dom Jackson, a kayaker who was lost to the sea in 2017. Dom’s only means of communication was a mobile phone stored in the rear hatch of his kayak and he was unable to access it when the weather changed and he got into difficulties. Plan B, along with Ocean Signal, a leading manufacturer of safety equipment, promote and educate the importance of carrying a means to call for help whilst outdoors.
Also, there is a PayPal 'money pool' set up to help cover Roy's costs. Roy works part-time and devotes nearly all of his pare time to voluntary ecological, environmental and conservation work. He is self-funding this challenge and won't be working for up to 2 months as he paddles the length of Britain. If you would like to help him, please feel free to donate. Any money left over at the end of this challenge will be split evenly between Keep Britain Tidy and Plan B Charity.
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Update February 10th 2021
Exclusive article in Dorset View magazine! Read it here:
https://www.dorsetview.co.uk/exclusive-top-down-kayak-challenge-from-john-ogroats-to-lands-end/#.YHU-HR9KjIU
Update 23rd January 2021
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2020 was a funny old year wasn't it? Lockdowns and and a pandemic, nobody travelling abroad for their holidays, beaches left in such a bad state thanks to some very selfish visitors. Myself and my Clean Jurassic Team spent a lot of the summer collecting bag after bag of rubbish, ultimately collecting well over 2000kg of plastic from the beaches, coast paths and the sea.
Oly Rush, a sea swimmer, swam the entire Jurassic Coast in an effort to raise money for environmental charities and I was his kayak support. The 100 mile swim took 10 days and we collected litter along the way, but also found dead animals and seabirds, some entangled in fishing line. We continue to collect plastic and other litter but feel there is a lack of awareness about the effects littering can have so I am going to kayak Britain and try to raise that awareness to new heights. The map shows my 900 mile route, I'll be setting off in late May, if COVID restrictions allow, and I shall kayak the sea, canals, rivers and lakes. I shall try to update this website as much as I can and there will be a live tracker for the challenge, but most updates will be on our Facebook group Kayaking For Charity or Instagram @top.down.kayak.challenge Please follow us, spread the word and share our social media! You can also find out more about the effects of plastic on our website www.cleanjurassiccoast.uk |
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Update 27th August 2018
Donations update.
So far we have raised £3205 for Jack's Fund and £730 (including gift aid) for Duchenne UK. That would not be possible if you lot weren't so generous. Thank you very much from the Kayaking for Charity team and Jack's family. Donation pages will be open for another month if you haven't donated yet!
Donations update.
So far we have raised £3205 for Jack's Fund and £730 (including gift aid) for Duchenne UK. That would not be possible if you lot weren't so generous. Thank you very much from the Kayaking for Charity team and Jack's family. Donation pages will be open for another month if you haven't donated yet!
Update 28th July 2018
We did it!
We ended up starting from Lulworth Cove on Sunday 22nd July as the wind forecast for later in the week didn't look good. Setting off as the sun was rising, a perfectly smooth sea beckoned. As it happened, every afternoon the wind picked up (as was expected to a degree) and we had quite choppy conditions. Fay was really tired after the first day, 22 km is a long way (most swim events are 10 km and this is deemed the swim equivalent of a marathon!) and the last half was across Weymouth bay with wind and waves against us and by the time we got into Portland Harbour, we had the tide against us as well. We stopped on the breakwater help to recharge, although I slipped on a seaweed covered rock and bruised my elbow. Clive, a kayaking friend, joined us across Weymouth bay. It was great to have a bit more support at that time!
We camped that first night in a campsite near The Fleet and Fay was pretty shattered. Friends Clive and Paul helped us to carry the kayak and kit across The Fleet and over Chesil beach the following morning. Somehow Fay gathered all her strength and reserve and continued on the Monday for the boring swim along the featureless Chesil Beach. We made good time with a lovely tide flow that got us to Abbotsbury for lunch time. We decided to call it a day so that Fay could spend the afternoon recovering. We enjoyed a lunch at the Abbotsbury Gardens with Fay's dad, David. He had walked the coast path from Weymouth to join us. Beth caught up with us a little later after she had walked around Portland first. She did this to top up her mileage as she couldn’t join us for the start on Sunday.
After beach camping on Chesil, we set off on Tuesday morning for Charmouth, Unfortunately, although the day started well, after Burton Bradstock the swell and waves started increasing and by the time we got to West Bay it was considerable. We just about made it to Seatown, where we both had to land on a steeply shelving beach in rough conditions. The swell coming in would have been more suitable for surfing. Somehow we did it and within a few minutes, Beth arrived, her coastal path walk leading her right to us.
We met some very kind people on the beach who donated, and Shelly and her boys met us later on with food. One day to go... Fay was pretty exhausted and her shoulders were incredibly sore. Beth had massive blisters on her feet from all the walking and was in a lot of pain too.
Fays dad met us again for the final slog. As he and Beth set off to finish the coast path, Fay and I set off for the final time after packing all the camping gear up. We made good time to Lyme Regis, passing the famous Golden Cap. A quick lunch stop on the beach, and we were on our way to Seaton. Clive rejoined us for a few miles on the last section to Seaton, but had to go on as his car parking ticket was about to run out!
The tide turned against us far sooner than we were led to believe and the last couple of kilometres were getting really tough. The final kilometre was the last straw. The tide flow against us was greater than Fay could manage. 4 days of swimming had taken their toll so I towed her. I could barely make headway along this last stretch, so great was the water flow, but somehow we got to the river mouth at Axmouth (Seaton) and the tide took us in to river. Landing on the beach just within the river entrance, Fay clambered out of the water, exhausted. I clambered out of the kayak, exhausted from towing! Beth and David rejoined us and a few friends turned up to congratulate us.
We had done it. Fay had swum 75 km in 4 days, the equivalent of 7 swim marathons!
The support we've had has been out of this world and you, our followers, have made the difference when the going was tough. Thank you to you all. And thanks for all the donations too. It's not too late to donate, click Make A Donation at the top of the page and follow the links. Don't forget our party on August 4th. Just join our Kayaking for Charity group and go to the Events page. Lots going on there!
We did it!
We ended up starting from Lulworth Cove on Sunday 22nd July as the wind forecast for later in the week didn't look good. Setting off as the sun was rising, a perfectly smooth sea beckoned. As it happened, every afternoon the wind picked up (as was expected to a degree) and we had quite choppy conditions. Fay was really tired after the first day, 22 km is a long way (most swim events are 10 km and this is deemed the swim equivalent of a marathon!) and the last half was across Weymouth bay with wind and waves against us and by the time we got into Portland Harbour, we had the tide against us as well. We stopped on the breakwater help to recharge, although I slipped on a seaweed covered rock and bruised my elbow. Clive, a kayaking friend, joined us across Weymouth bay. It was great to have a bit more support at that time!
We camped that first night in a campsite near The Fleet and Fay was pretty shattered. Friends Clive and Paul helped us to carry the kayak and kit across The Fleet and over Chesil beach the following morning. Somehow Fay gathered all her strength and reserve and continued on the Monday for the boring swim along the featureless Chesil Beach. We made good time with a lovely tide flow that got us to Abbotsbury for lunch time. We decided to call it a day so that Fay could spend the afternoon recovering. We enjoyed a lunch at the Abbotsbury Gardens with Fay's dad, David. He had walked the coast path from Weymouth to join us. Beth caught up with us a little later after she had walked around Portland first. She did this to top up her mileage as she couldn’t join us for the start on Sunday.
After beach camping on Chesil, we set off on Tuesday morning for Charmouth, Unfortunately, although the day started well, after Burton Bradstock the swell and waves started increasing and by the time we got to West Bay it was considerable. We just about made it to Seatown, where we both had to land on a steeply shelving beach in rough conditions. The swell coming in would have been more suitable for surfing. Somehow we did it and within a few minutes, Beth arrived, her coastal path walk leading her right to us.
We met some very kind people on the beach who donated, and Shelly and her boys met us later on with food. One day to go... Fay was pretty exhausted and her shoulders were incredibly sore. Beth had massive blisters on her feet from all the walking and was in a lot of pain too.
Fays dad met us again for the final slog. As he and Beth set off to finish the coast path, Fay and I set off for the final time after packing all the camping gear up. We made good time to Lyme Regis, passing the famous Golden Cap. A quick lunch stop on the beach, and we were on our way to Seaton. Clive rejoined us for a few miles on the last section to Seaton, but had to go on as his car parking ticket was about to run out!
The tide turned against us far sooner than we were led to believe and the last couple of kilometres were getting really tough. The final kilometre was the last straw. The tide flow against us was greater than Fay could manage. 4 days of swimming had taken their toll so I towed her. I could barely make headway along this last stretch, so great was the water flow, but somehow we got to the river mouth at Axmouth (Seaton) and the tide took us in to river. Landing on the beach just within the river entrance, Fay clambered out of the water, exhausted. I clambered out of the kayak, exhausted from towing! Beth and David rejoined us and a few friends turned up to congratulate us.
We had done it. Fay had swum 75 km in 4 days, the equivalent of 7 swim marathons!
The support we've had has been out of this world and you, our followers, have made the difference when the going was tough. Thank you to you all. And thanks for all the donations too. It's not too late to donate, click Make A Donation at the top of the page and follow the links. Don't forget our party on August 4th. Just join our Kayaking for Charity group and go to the Events page. Lots going on there!
Update 18th July 2018.
Less than 10 days to go. Fay managed a massive swim a couple of weeks ago. 17km on the Saturday and another 11km on Sunday. A mega effort!
Beth has been getting ready for her Coast Path walk too, her rucksack is rather large and looks heavy when loaded. Thankfully, I'm carrying all my kit (and Fays) in the kayak.
This last weekend Fay swam in the Bantham Swoosh event and, whilst the other competitors were packing up and heading home, she continued in the sea, with me alongside in the kayak, for another few hours. We camped on a beach and did another couple of hours the following day. That will probably do for the training for now. The weather forecast for next week, when we plan to start the challenge, is looking windy as the week progresses. This may mean that we start on Monday 23rd instead of the Wednesday as the wind may create very rough seas. Watch this space!
Less than 10 days to go. Fay managed a massive swim a couple of weeks ago. 17km on the Saturday and another 11km on Sunday. A mega effort!
Beth has been getting ready for her Coast Path walk too, her rucksack is rather large and looks heavy when loaded. Thankfully, I'm carrying all my kit (and Fays) in the kayak.
This last weekend Fay swam in the Bantham Swoosh event and, whilst the other competitors were packing up and heading home, she continued in the sea, with me alongside in the kayak, for another few hours. We camped on a beach and did another couple of hours the following day. That will probably do for the training for now. The weather forecast for next week, when we plan to start the challenge, is looking windy as the week progresses. This may mean that we start on Monday 23rd instead of the Wednesday as the wind may create very rough seas. Watch this space!
Update 04th July 2018.
With only 3 weeks to go, training is hotting up. Fay has done some serious swims recently. Can't believe the start is almost upon us.
We do, however, have a small cry for help.
Fay and I are splashing out on various advertising and fund raising bits and bobs, as well as safety gear and other costs. We don't mind doing that but it's costing us a little more than expected and we are NOT going to dip into any of the donation money received so far.
If anyone would like to help us out, we'd be eternally grateful. If you are a business, you'll get a mention on this website and a link to yours (website gets a few hundred hits a day). We can also put a sticker (or two) on the kayak. If you are not a business but a generous individual, you'll get a mention too obviously, but also a surprise gift!
Please message me via the email link at the top of page if you'd like to help out.
With only 3 weeks to go, training is hotting up. Fay has done some serious swims recently. Can't believe the start is almost upon us.
We do, however, have a small cry for help.
Fay and I are splashing out on various advertising and fund raising bits and bobs, as well as safety gear and other costs. We don't mind doing that but it's costing us a little more than expected and we are NOT going to dip into any of the donation money received so far.
If anyone would like to help us out, we'd be eternally grateful. If you are a business, you'll get a mention on this website and a link to yours (website gets a few hundred hits a day). We can also put a sticker (or two) on the kayak. If you are not a business but a generous individual, you'll get a mention too obviously, but also a surprise gift!
Please message me via the email link at the top of page if you'd like to help out.
News update. 14th June 2018.
Hey everyone. It's only 6 weeks until Fay sets off on her swim Beth on her walk and I kayak alongside Fay.
The plan has changed very slightly. Instead of starting on Weymouth seafront, we are now starting at Lulworth Cove. This is because we have decided to cut out Portland due to the nightmare involved in planning the tides around The Bill. Fay's safety comes first.
We are hoping to set off on July 25th, but this is very weather dependent!
The overall distance (75km/45 miles) will be the same though.
Please remember to donate here.
Hey everyone. It's only 6 weeks until Fay sets off on her swim Beth on her walk and I kayak alongside Fay.
The plan has changed very slightly. Instead of starting on Weymouth seafront, we are now starting at Lulworth Cove. This is because we have decided to cut out Portland due to the nightmare involved in planning the tides around The Bill. Fay's safety comes first.
We are hoping to set off on July 25th, but this is very weather dependent!
The overall distance (75km/45 miles) will be the same though.
Please remember to donate here.
News update 6th January 2018
Provisional dates for your diary!
The Spirit of Seaton challenge.
Weather permitting, we are hoping to start in Weymouth on July 25th 2018. The tides for that day mean that Fay needs to be in the water for about 6.45am to make the best use of them. Then she'll be spending the next few days immersed in the water for up to ten hours a day. If you bear in mind that she only started sea swimming in 2015 and her biggest swim event so far has 'only' been 10km, this really is a massive undertaking.
We are hoping to arrive in Seaton on the Saturday 28th but anything can happen with the weather and the sea. Safety is our main priority.
With me kayaking alongside Fay, and Beth walking the coast path, this 50 mile challenge is not to be sniffed at (especially the complex tides around Portland). Others will be joining us along the way, and everybody is welcome but I must stress that you do so at your own risk. Our plans are solely based upon Fays swim speed.
We have land support thanks to Roy Morley and his van too.
We shall be having a bit of a party the following weekend. Venue to be confirmed, but on August 4th we shall be having what can only be described as a mini festival. With live music, food, children's entertainment and a charity auction, this will be a great fund raising event for the two charities. This will be held under a VIP marquee that will have a separate (and safe) kids area. Truly an event for the whole family!
Confirmed so far;
Peter Bray. He kayaked solo across the North Atlantic in 2001 and has kindly offered to talk about his 76 day adventure, plus all the other amazing things that he has done!
Boson Theory. This local band will be playing, along with others to be confirmed.
We have a few things lined up for the charity auction, but more on that nearer the time, although I must mention the beautiful Greenland paddle that will be hand made especially for this event by Paul of Freedom Kayaks of Dorchester. There will be a competition to help with the design of this paddle. Please watch for updates.
A Short Story/Plea
In April 2010 I started working for RPM Motor Services in Seaton.
My employers, Andy and Shelly, were more than welcoming and before too long I considered them my friends too. Shelly was pregnant when I started working for them and, in October that year, she gave birth to Jack.
I've seen Jack growing up over these last 7 years and I feel like I'm sort of an unofficial uncle to him.
You can imagine how sad (and angry) I felt when I found out that he had been recently diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy. You can imagine how his parents felt too, especially when the diagnosis came through that Jack has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
For those of you who aren't aware, this is the worst form that can be had. Jacks muscles will degenerate over the next few years. It is, and there is no other way to say this, 100% fatal.
Jack is 7 years old. He's done nothing wrong to deserve this and I for one feel so bloody helpless. As Andy said recently, he fixes cars everyday, why can't he fix his son?
Andy and Shelly have had to sell their house to move into a bungalow as Jack is already struggling with stairs. Jack isn't aware of why he struggles to move, and his parents have chosen not to tell him. At his age, he won't fully understand. Please respect this if you were to ever meet him.
I would really like to help them out with their up and coming expenses of buying equipment for Jack, adapting their new home and making sure that Jack has the best life that he can and I'm asking for your help.
Andy and Shelly have always been massively supportive throughout my kayaking challenges, helping to promote and help with expenses so now it's time to help them and, with my kayaking (along with the Kayaking for Charity team) and my girlfriend Fay being an open water swimmer, we have some ideas for some much needed fund raising, so watch this space.
When I first mentioned this to Jacks parents they immediately suggested that some of the fund raising goes to MD UK but they have since chosen Duchenne UK instead. You can read about them here; www.duchenneuk.org
Let's get Christmas out of the way first, but keeping checking here and our Facebook group for any updates.
If anybody would like to help, please contact me.
This time we're Kayaking for Jack.
A very overdue update.
Donations reached £6100 in total!
The book is coming along, way behind schedule but it is getting there.
There may be a challenge for next year... Involving swimming and kayaking and raising money for charity. Watch this space!
Kayaking for Charity have some rather good ideas for the future... we want to do so much more with this group so please keep checking back for further updates.
And don't forget to check out the music video below that was written and sung by local artist Karen Fairfax.
In April 2010 I started working for RPM Motor Services in Seaton.
My employers, Andy and Shelly, were more than welcoming and before too long I considered them my friends too. Shelly was pregnant when I started working for them and, in October that year, she gave birth to Jack.
I've seen Jack growing up over these last 7 years and I feel like I'm sort of an unofficial uncle to him.
You can imagine how sad (and angry) I felt when I found out that he had been recently diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy. You can imagine how his parents felt too, especially when the diagnosis came through that Jack has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
For those of you who aren't aware, this is the worst form that can be had. Jacks muscles will degenerate over the next few years. It is, and there is no other way to say this, 100% fatal.
Jack is 7 years old. He's done nothing wrong to deserve this and I for one feel so bloody helpless. As Andy said recently, he fixes cars everyday, why can't he fix his son?
Andy and Shelly have had to sell their house to move into a bungalow as Jack is already struggling with stairs. Jack isn't aware of why he struggles to move, and his parents have chosen not to tell him. At his age, he won't fully understand. Please respect this if you were to ever meet him.
I would really like to help them out with their up and coming expenses of buying equipment for Jack, adapting their new home and making sure that Jack has the best life that he can and I'm asking for your help.
Andy and Shelly have always been massively supportive throughout my kayaking challenges, helping to promote and help with expenses so now it's time to help them and, with my kayaking (along with the Kayaking for Charity team) and my girlfriend Fay being an open water swimmer, we have some ideas for some much needed fund raising, so watch this space.
When I first mentioned this to Jacks parents they immediately suggested that some of the fund raising goes to MD UK but they have since chosen Duchenne UK instead. You can read about them here; www.duchenneuk.org
Let's get Christmas out of the way first, but keeping checking here and our Facebook group for any updates.
If anybody would like to help, please contact me.
This time we're Kayaking for Jack.
A very overdue update.
Donations reached £6100 in total!
The book is coming along, way behind schedule but it is getting there.
There may be a challenge for next year... Involving swimming and kayaking and raising money for charity. Watch this space!
Kayaking for Charity have some rather good ideas for the future... we want to do so much more with this group so please keep checking back for further updates.
And don't forget to check out the music video below that was written and sung by local artist Karen Fairfax.
360 miles, 3 weeks, 3 charities
A kayaking adventure starting from Tower Bridge and then following the coast to Seaton in East Devon.
We are raising money for Cancer Research, the RNLI, and St Peter's Hospice.
A kayaking adventure starting from Tower Bridge and then following the coast to Seaton in East Devon.
We are raising money for Cancer Research, the RNLI, and St Peter's Hospice.
Please watch and share this video. Let the world know!
