DID YOU PACK A PADDLEBOARD , AND DID YOU USE IT ? HAVE YOU PADDLED SINCE GETTING OFF THE WATER IN JOHN O ’ GROATS ?
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I had my first paddle in two years ( on a SUP ) in Djibouti ; some ladies told me I must bring a paddleboard , so I ensured it was included in my excess baggage . It was amazing to get back on it for an hour or so , especially in such an ‘ unpaddled ’ part of the world , the Horn of Africa ! It was like I had never been off it ; I certainly won ’ t be leaving it as long next time .
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What encouragement did you give the guests leading up to the trip – did they need a certain level of fitness , for example ? Were they asked to take any special items out for the children ? We had a great group that was a pleasure to work with on this adventure . I can ’ t fault any of them ; they all did their best to make a difference in the lives of children less fortunate . Everyone was taken outside their comfort zones ( some more than others ) and will have grown as people hugely from the experience . All the team brought gifts , educational resources , uniforms , letters , stationery , and other items that helped improve the children ’ s lives . We recommend that everyone has a basic fitness level and understands that it ’ s an extreme environment , and we manage the risks accordingly . It was necessary , though , that they all understood that this wasn ’ t a holiday ; it was an expedition !
I guess the most important part of the trip was the school visit – can you tell us more about that and how the children were ? The children were amazing ; seeing their smiles and voices again was very special , and you can ’ t help but be moved and emotional by the experience . I ’ m sure everyone who joined me on this trip will agree too . What I enjoyed most about the school visit was seeing the team interacting with the children and doing their best to help them . Many team members have already initiated their projects to help the school ; one lady is heading up a project to build an IT room and extra classroom for students , so I am sure we will hear more about that in the coming months .
What are your lasting impressions of what SUP has given you personally over these last few years ? SUP has given me some of the greatest life lessons I have discovered . It has allowed me to manage my mental and physical health better ; it helped me understand the purpose in its strongest form ; it has taught me resilience , teamwork , community spirit , and much more . I have also met some incredibly inspiring people through the sport and friends for life . The SUP community , including the brands , the people , the water , and the therapy it offers , will always have a special place in my heart . I will continue to encourage as many people as possible to get involved .
Now let ’ s hear from Dawn Aldred about her experience of this trip …
Dawn – how long have you been Stand Up Paddleboarding ? Three years . I ’ m a fair-weather , calm-water paddler and don ’ t like getting wet . I get enjoyment from and take pride in litter-picking the waterways .
Would you see yourself as an adventurous person ? I like to challenge myself , but I don ’ t consider myself very adventurous ; that ’ s measured by who you or I might consider adventurous . My friends believe I am , but compared to the people I follow , admire , and am inspired by , I don ’ t think I am .
You were a big supporter of Jordan when he was on his Great British Paddle challenge – when and how did you get to meet him ? I met Jordan one evening after travelling to the south coast to watch the first showing of ‘ Circumnavigate ,’ the beautiful film of Brendan Prince ’ s World record achievement – stand-up paddleboarding around mainland Britain .
You signed up for this adventure spontaneously , so how did you feel in the months leading up to the trip ? Were you nervous / excited ? Ah yes , this was a knee-jerk reaction to signing up for this adventure , so I ’ d not asked any questions about what it entailed . I knew we ’ d be taking well-needed supplies to the school , and I had yet to get a clue about the adventures planned while we were in Djibouti .
What did you do to prepare yourself for this trip ? Once Jordan had sent me the itinerary , I had eight months to prepare for the trip . I ’ d planned to start running again , eat healthily , get more sleep and have a great bikini body ready for that stay on the boat . None of that happened . I went out there knowing I ’ d have to wing it , and I did !
What did you take over extra for the children ? Several of us took extra baggage allowance , and I filled my extra 100-litre bag with pens , toothbrushes , toothpaste , tiny teddy bears for the little ones , and bras for the women . A woman seen to be wearing supportive clothing is less likely to be treated disrespectfully . I collected bras from friends , family , and the local community and took them to the village .
How was your time visiting the school , and what did you do there ? Visiting the school was emotional . Just thinking of how it came about with a promise Jordan Wylie made to a little boy in a village , four hours ’ drive from the city . Seeing that the children now have a place to go to learn was very emotional . The parents came to meet us and thank us for our support , which was very humbling .