We've Done It!

After just over 3 hours of paddling we arrived at the Cutty Sark in Greenwich having kayaked 18 miles of the River Thames.

Weather was brilliant, but the best bit was we raised over £2,000 for The Greenwich & Bexley Cottage Hospice (see the totaliser on the right for the current total - there is still money coming in).

A big thank you to the RIB crew Steve, Mark, Sophie, Evelyn, Emily, Charlotte & Laura and to Mum back home who put together a fantastic homecoming tea - you can stop worrying now!

A big, big thank you to all of our sponsors, corporate and personal.

You can see pictures from the 10th on the gallery page

Being with someone in their last days is an emotional and physical roller coaster. You know what's going to happen but you don't know when. At times you wish for it to go on for ever, other times you want it to stop right now. You have no control. The outside world carries on without flinching, but stands still for you. Eventually one life ends and yours is never the same.

Our father, Ken West, lost his eight year battle against prostate cancer on September 10th 2007. He fought hard until the end but eventually the disease, which had robbed him of mobility and any desire to eat won. Both of us were with him when he passed and other family and his many friends and had visited in the days before. Dad had his wish and spent his final days in The Greenwich & Bexley Cottage Hospice. He had been a frequent visitor to Shornell's Monday Club that, latterly, had been his only venture out of the house.

The Greenwich & Bexley Cottage Hospice is an amazing place. Privately funded at the cost of over £3 million per year, the extraordinary staff provide a compassionate level of care that extends past the patient to include their family. Somehow the busy staff have time to make sure the family members camped out in the ward or private room are looked after and can rustle up incredible sausage sandwiches for breakfast without batting an eyelid. No question is too silly, no request too much and information is thoughtfully explained, as many times as is necessary.

Having been looked after so well, we are both driven to help other families in the same situation, by raising money for the hospice. Simple plan. Take a two-man kayak, cover it in corporate sponsorship, raise personal sponsorship and paddle downstream on the Thames finishing up at Greenwich. Raise at least £10,000.

We would like to dedicate this challenge to our Dad, and the many cherished memories we have of him. We would also like to pay tribute to our Mum, Christina, who supported and nursed Dad through thick and thin and has been a immense source of strength to us over the last few months. Love and thanks to Emily, Charlotte, Laura and Evelyn who continue to help and support us and last, but not least, we want to thank and pay tribute to all the staff at The Greenwich & Bexley Hospice.

Nigel West & Karen Ward