Round-Britain kayaker meets HM Lord Lieutenant of Caithness
Posted on 1st July 2024
One month into his solo circumnavigation of the UK, THINK AORTA kayaker Mike Lambert met Lord Thurso, HM Lord Lieutenant for Caithness, while sheltering from the weather in the northern Scottish port and waiting to paddle on through the Pentland Firth.
(Photo credit: Pentland Canoe Club)
Mike has been enjoying the hospitality and support of the Pentland Canoe Club since arriving in Thurso last Thursday evening. Rested and ready to paddle on by Saturday, he was prevented from doing so by adverse weather conditions making a solo crossing of the Pentland Firth too dangerous. Instead, Mike was invited by the canoe club to attend Thurso Armed Forces Day, where he was honoured to meet HM Lord Lieutenant for Caithness, Lord Thurso.
Mike is just over half way through his incredible solo kayak journey, which takes in the whole UK coastline and involves some lengthy sea crossings. He has already successfully navigated the Bristol Channel from North Devon to South West Wales and crossed the Irish Sea - twice! His next challenge is a solo paddle of the Pentland Firth, where he hopes to see Orca whales. Mike is raising awareness of Aortic Dissection - a life-threatening condition involving a tear in the body's largest artery, the Aorta, from which his Mum sadly died. In his first month at sea, he has raised over £15,000 for Aortic Dissection charities and RNLI.
"The 1,200 members of the national patient charity Aortic Dissection Awareness UK & Ireland 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 as he circumnavigates the UK. Thank you, Thurso, for looking after him so well."
Live GPS track of Mike's progress.
Members of the charity have been meeting Mike en route to provide support and encouragement. A group of Aortic Dissection survivors plans to welcome him back to East Wittering on the south coast at some point in July.
Click here to donate and support Mike's fundraising efforts for Aortic Dissection charities.
