CANOEISTS on their way from Witley near Oxford to Westminster passed by Wokingham Waterside Centre in Reading today.
The group of 12 are taking part in a sporting challenge to raise money for A+Adventure Plus.
The Oxfordshire Christian adventure youthwork charity provides holidays, school residentials, DofE expeditions,and team building events to inspire and encourage young people and adults in Oxfordshire and across the UK.
Through quality time in the outdoors, at the charity’s 80 acre estate in Clanfield, West Oxfordshire, Adventure Plus aims to help children and young people reach their potential and to make positive life choices.
The charity is staging what it believes to be the longest open Charity Canoe Marathon in the UK, from Witney to Westminster, following the Thames.
The canoeists are being hosted by churches along the way, with breakfast and a place to spend the night.
As they passed by Wokingham Waterside Centre, the cheerful paddlers stopped for a quick chat.
Jonathan, Jo, Jon, Rhoda, John, and Matt said: “It’s going really well, and we’re having fun.
“The weather today is perfect but yesterday we had a very strong Southerly headwind.
“It’s okay for seasoned canoeists but it was really challenging, and these guys have been tremendous.”
The group are very touched by the kindness they are receiving from churches.
They set off at 9am this morning from St Thomas Church, Goring.
“They cooked supper for us, and arranged showers in people’s home for us to use.
“All the churches are so kind, they cook a meal for us in the evening, and set us up with a lovely breakfast the next morning.
“And they don’t ask us for any contribution to the food, they are just keen to support the youth work that we do.
“It’s a wonderful testimony to people’s hospitality.”
Adventure Plus offers Group Adventures for schools; youth groups; DofE; church weekends away and family groups; Adventure Impact, a specialist unit for children and young people who are vulnerable, disadvantaged or who have additional needs; Total Adventure residential holidays; and day camps for individuals and groups of friends.
They also run GAP: Adventure training, gap year discipleship and internship programmes; Adventure Club; Climbing club; and Canoe Club; with weekly activities for Oxfordshire young people.
The aim is to foster young people’s relationships, and to provide mentoring and encouragement into early adulthood.
For more information, visit: www.adventureplus.org.uk
