A MAN who has raised more than £10,000 for Diabetes UK is set to pass through Reading on his latest fundraiser for the charity.
Avid-paddleboarder Adrian Angell will be joined by his brother, Tim, 60, as they take part in a tandem paddleboard challenge along the River Thames.
The pair will paddle 100 miles of river in two days, passing through Oxford, Windsor, and Reading on the journey from Lechdale, Gloucestershire, to Romney Lock, Windsor.
It is the seventh challenge for the charity undertaken by Adrian, who has paddleboarded nearly 500 miles across his fundraising efforts and raised more than £10,000, while Tim is new to paddleboarding.
Diabetes is a condition where the body is unable to use glucose, resulting in too much glucose in the blood.
This leads to complications such as blood clots, and is one of the major causes of preventable sight loss in the UK, as well as limb amputation, kidney failure, and stroke.
Adrian said: “It’s going to be so great to have my brother alongside me for this challenge–he’s a complete beginner and going from zero to 100 miles is no mean feat, but I have complete faith in him that he can do this.
“We have family and friends who live with diabetes so we see how hard life can be managing the condition. We hope that our fundraising can provide support and hope to as many people as possible.”
Tim said: “Over the past six years I’ve seen Adrian take on some amazing challenges to raise money for Diabetes UK.
“I’ve always supported him from the sidelines but this time – and I don’t quite know how it happened! – he’s persuaded me to take part.
“I’m an active runner and mountaineer so have a reasonable level of fitness already, but I’ll definitely be having more lessons in the lead-up.
He added: “It’s a daunting challenge but I’m looking forward to spending time with my brother doing something for a really important cause.”
Phaedra Perry, head of Diabetes UK south west and south central, said: “Here at Diabetes UK we wouldn’t be able to do the work we do without fundraisers like Adrian and Timothy.”This challenge will be relentless for both of them, and we think that’s a powerful way to raise awareness of the relentlessness of diabetes.
“We know that there is no off switch for people living with the condition, so money raised through fundraising will help provide Diabetes UK care and support services, advice and guidance and pioneering research.”
More information about Adrian and Tim’s fundraising is available via: justgiving.com/fundraising/adrian-angell4
