Brothers set to take on 100-mile paddleboarding challenge along River Thames 

A man who has raised over £10,000 for Diabetes UK is preparing for his latest challenge, to raise further vital funds for the charity. Adrian Angell will be joined on a tandem paddleboard by his brother Tim, to paddle 100 miles along the River Thames in just two days.

Whilst 58-year-old Adrian is an avid paddleboarder, 60-year-old Tim is completely new to paddleboarding. The intrepid pair will leave Lechlade in Gloucestershire at 5.00 am on Saturday, 11th May, and paddle along the non-tidal Thames, passing Oxford, Reading, and Windsor Castle, navigating 35 locks along the way. They aim to reach Romney Lock in Windsor by the evening of Sunday 12^th May.

This is Adrian’s seventh challenge for Diabetes UK, and over the past six years, his fundraising has taken him nearly 500 miles by paddleboard in lakes, rivers, and seas in and around England, Ireland, Scotland, France, and America.

“It’s going to be so great to have my brother alongside me for this challenge," said Angell. " 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.”

“Over the past six years, I’ve seen Adrian take on some amazing challenges to raise money for Diabetes UK," added his brother Tim. "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 I have a reasonable level of fitness already, but I’ll definitely be having more lessons in the lead-up. It’s a daunting challenge but I’m looking forward to spending time with my brother doing something for a really important cause.”

Angell is a long-time Paddle Monster member and has trained with head coach Larry Cain, who has tailored Angell's training program for the River Thames paddle.

"I've had the pleasure to know and work with Adrian Angell for a few years now and one of the things I love about him is his eagerness to accept a wide variety of paddling challenges," said Coach Cain. "Whether these challenges are shorter races or what I consider to be ultra long-distance events, and whether it is in the United States, the UK or Europe, Adrian has done a wide variety or really interesting paddles, often supporting a worthwhile cause like Diabetes UK.  I am certain this year's challenge will be a great success.  Please consider supporting him in his effort."

Diabetes is a condition where there is too much glucose in the blood because the body cannot use it properly. If not managed well, both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can lead to devastating complications. Diabetes is one of the leading causes of preventable sight loss in people of working age in the UK and is a major cause of lower limb amputation, kidney failure, and stroke. 

“Here at Diabetes UK, we wouldn’t be able to do the work we do without fundraisers like Adrian and Timothy," Phaedra Perry, Head of Diabetes UK – southwest and south central, said. "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 the money raised through fundraising will help provide Diabetes UK care and support services, advice and guidance, and pioneering research.”

Adrian, a chemical engineer, lives and works in Cincinnati, Ohio, as a Director of Research and development at Procter & Gamble. Tim, a tax adviser, lives and works in Norfolk. They are both originally from Cumbria.

Adrian and Tim are hoping to raise £1,000. To donate, visit: Adrian Angell is fundraising for Diabetes UK (justgiving.com)