Kayaker sets off on world record challenge in memory of Mum
Posted on 1st June 2024
Mike Lambert is attempting to break the world record for kayaking 3,000km around the coast of Britain, in memory of his Mum who died of an aortic dissection. He aims to raise £40,000 for aortic dissection charities and RNLI.
At 5am on Saturday, 1st June, Mike Lambert set-off from the beach at East Wittering in Sussex on an epic challenge - to cover 3,000km around the coast of Britain by kayak in 40 days or less and smash the current world record.
The national patient charity Aortic Dissection Awareness UK & Ireland has been supporting Mike since he lost his beloved Mum Caroline to an aortic dissection. For the past year, he has been training for the record attempt by commuting to work along the Thames in his THINK AORTA kayak. Now, he has taken to the sea for an incredible journey that takes in the whole UK coastline and involves some lengthy sea crossings, including the Bristol Channel and the Irish Sea (twice).
"The 1,200 members of the national patient charity are totally inspired by what Mike is doing to raise awareness of aortic dissection and funds for the charity" says Gareth Owens, Chair of Trustees. "Many of our members are aortic dissection survivors like me who have faced their own challenges recovering from a life-threatening condition and major open heart surgery. Others are bereaved relatives like Mike, whose families have been devastated by the disease. We feel a strong affinity with the physical, mental and emotional journey that this challenge represents and we are all rooting for Mike to break the world record."
Live GPS track of Mike's progress.
If all goes according to plan, Mike should arrive back at East Wittering before 10th July.
Click here to donate and support Mike's fundraising efforts for aortic dissection charities.
