A University of Worcester lecturer who has kayaked 310 miles in 31 days to raise money for charity is set to complete his month-long challenge today (Friday 31 July), having already exceeded his original fundraising target.
Steve Ennis, Business Lecturer and Managing Director of advisory service Business Doctors Worcestershire, has been paddling ten miles a day on the River Avon to raise money for Megan Baker House, a Herefordshire charity which supports people who live with neurological disorders.
He has already smashed his original £2,000 target, raising more than £3,100 so far, and says he’s now hoping to raise £5,000 in total.
“It has been much easier as the month has gone on, because I’ve just been getting fitter and fitter,” laughed Steve. “It has been tough at times, as I’ve done the same route each day, so I’ve had a bit of Groundhog Day, and some days it felt like I was a hamster on a wheel!”
Steve said the warm sunny weather had helped him on his challenge: “It has been amazing,” he said. “Some days it was really hot, but even on the cooler days it was still very warm and so the conditions have been nearly perfect. I’ve been wearing the factor-50 and keeping myself hydrated as well.”
Each day of his challenge, Steve has been joined by a different member of the Worcestershire and Gloucestershire business community, who have been supporting him with his fundraising.
“It has been so wonderful to be able to have extended chats with 31 different people,” said Steve. “It takes an average of around two-and-a-half to three hours to do the route, so I’ve really been able to get to know these people and chat about our lives and our backgrounds, I’ve spoken about everything under the sun this month.”
Steve said that the wildlife has been a real highlight of the challenge: “I’ve seen a few deer, they’re always curious about what I’m doing, and I even saw one just grazing on the grass in someone’s garden.”
“There’s a large terrapin, about the size of a rugby ball, that likes to hang out in the same place,” he said. “I’ve seen him seven or eight times this month. I’ve seen buzzards, egrets, herons, kites and kingfishers galore, we even had a brave swan fly straight past us.”
Steve continues to raise money for Megan Baker House, a charity which supports children and adults with neurological conditions such as cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s, and people who’ve had a stroke, providing them with specialist therapy to help them live more independent lives.
If you’d like to contribute towards Steve’s mission, visit his JustGiving page.