Paddle power will cash for Muscular Dystrophy

Jan 31 2010 by Coreena Ford, Sunday Sun

A SPORTY scientist is swapping the lab for the river in the most demanding endurance test of his life . . . kayaking 125 miles non-stop.

Alasdair Woods and his boating partner Chris Walker hope their paddle power will raise thousands for sufferers of Muscular Dystrophy, the muscle wasting disease he is researching into.

The duo are taking on the notoriously tough Devizes to Westminster Canoe Marathon, an annual race which sees more than 100 kayaks and canoes battle their way to London, testing them to the limit in every way.

It will take the team around 24 hours to complete, meaning they will even paddle throughout the night to reach their goal.

The race doesn’t take place until April, which gives Alasdair, of Newcastle, and Chris both plenty of time to prepare.

They are using all their free time to get their strength up in the gym and practise paddling long distances at Castlegate Quay Watersports Centre in Stockton, Teesside, where Chris also works as an instructor.

Alasdair, 24, said: “It’s going to be physically and mentally challenging, but we’ve got a good team on board. We’ll race non-stop through the night and check on each other to make sure we’re OK, and there’s no way you can train for that.

“You do it on adrenaline and just hope and pray you make it. I have done the juniors race before, when you complete the course over four days, so I’ve got an idea what it’s like.

“We’ll have three cars full of people following us along the way, to pass us food and water and give us loads of encouragement.”