Navy veteran raising money for breast cancer by rowing the English Channel
Paul Smith OBE, a Royal Navy veteran, is currently preparing for his latest fundraiser — Challenge the Channel.
The challenge, which will see Mr Smith row across the English Channel un-aided, is in remembrance of his friend and inspiration Marjorie Anne Walker, who passed away last year after battling breast cancer.
He is hoping to raise £150,000 for Breast Cancer Haven, which has a centre in Titchfield, Hampshire.
Mr Smith joined the Navy aged 16 and served during the Falklands war and the first Gulf campaign, but he suffered life-changing injuries in a car accident in 1991.
Despite surviving the accident, he suffered from lock-in syndrome for 12 years.
When he emerged, he dedicated his life to fundraising in the years that followed, completing numerous extreme physical challenges.
These included pushing himself in his wheelchair from Plymouth to the Emirates Stadium in North London, conquering the Rock of Gibraltar, abseiling down the Spinnaker Tower and completing a successful skydive.
In that time he raised over £2.3m for a number of charities including Great Ormond Street, Teenager Cancer Trust, Centrepoint, Kiya Survivors, Oakley Waterman Caravan Foundation and Save the Children.
He intended to retire from physical challenges in 2015, but following Mrs Walker’s death, he decided he would push himself one more time.
Mr Smith, who is currently training hard for the challenge, said: “It’s going to be difficult, we’ll be dealing with 12-foot waves and I can’t swim because of my head injury, but I know that Marjorie Anne will be smiling down at me.
“I hope the public donate so that people at Breast Cancer Haven will benefit.”
Plans are in place for Mr Smith to set off from Dover on the 25th May 2019.
You can donate in aid of this cause, and find out more here.
