A Cumbrian man is getting ready to paddleboard across the Irish Sea for charity.
Adrian Angell, 57, of Seascale, who now lives in Cincinnati, will be returning to the UK to paddleboard 40 miles from the Isle of Man to Seascale beach to raise money for Diabetes UK.
The 57-year-old has been raising money for the charity since 2018 after a close family member living with Type 1 diabetes suggested the idea to him.
He said: “I’m really excited about this year’s challenge. It will be the longest sea-crossing I’ve done by paddleboard and the furthest from land I’ve been while out on my board.
“I’ve started the training now that the spring weather is defrosting the lakes near my home in the US and I’ve been working with some local contacts who will be supporting me on the day to stay safe and liaise with the coastguards.”
The former Seascale Primary School pupil’s affinity with outdoor sports started on Seascale beach where he learned to windsurf as a child.
His parents were keen climbers and mountaineers and Adrian initially trained as a windsurfing instructor before moving into paddle-boarding in 2007.
Adrian adds: “I remember looking over to the Isle of Man from Seascale beach as a child, the same beach I first learned how to windsurf, and it always seemed so far away.
“This year’s challenge feels particularly poignant, I have so many fond memories of my hometown and Seascale beach. This time around I’ll be on the Isle of Man looking over at my hometown as I set off to sea. I’ve always tried to push myself with new challenges- our school motto was ‘aim high’ and that’s what I like to do.”
Adrian, a chemical engineer who has lived in the USA since 1995, has raised thousands of pounds for Diabetes UK since he started fundraising in 2018 when he crossed the English Channel by paddleboard.
He aims to complete this year’s challenge during the second week of May, starting on Monday 8.
He added: “This challenge is very weather dependant, so the day I set off, the conditions will need to be good. I’ve given myself a window of about a week, so hopefully, given the time of year we’ll have the weather and conditions to safely take on this challenge.
“Diabetes UK offers so much help and support to people living with and affected by diabetes – I know my family have benefitted in many ways, from using their Helpline to family residentials. I hope that my efforts will help the charity to continue their vital work.”
Clare Howarth, head of the North of England at Diabetes UK said: “More so than ever, people with diabetes need us, but we need your support to be able to continue fighting their corner.
“We want to thank Adrian for yet again, putting an incredible amount of hard work and effort into supporting people living with diabetes and our work at Diabetes UK.
“Without the help of generous supporters like you, we simply would not be able to offer support to the thousands of people with diabetes contacting our helpline, to campaign to keep people with diabetes safe in the workplace, or to invest in vital research – taking us a step closer to our vision of a world where diabetes can do no harm.”
If you’d like to support Adrian’s fundraising effort visit: https://www.justgiving.com/page/adrian-angell-iom-to-cumbria
