Pair take on Devizes to Westminster canoe race for Prostate Cancer UK

A novice paddler who took up the sport less than two years ago has joined forces with a seasoned expert to take part in a gruelling 125-mile river race for charity.

Rebecca Bird, 53, will be making her debut in this year’s Devizes to Westminster Canoe Race alongside Alex Burt, 46, a former Team GB slalom canoeist and serving Army Lieutenant Colonel who has completed the race four times before.

The pair, who both live in Newbury and are members of the town’s canoe club, will be hitting the water in a pairs kayak on March 30 and paddling non-stop, aiming to finish within 21 hours.

They have so far raised £640 towards their £1,000 target for Prostate Cancer UK, which they chose after a mutual friend and fellow club member was diagnosed with the illness.

Their challenge will take them from Devizes in Wiltshire, along the Kennet and Avon Canal, through Hungerford, Newbury and Aldermaston, onto the River Thames at Reading, through Marlow and Windsor and finally onto the tidal Thames at Teddington.

The race ends at Westminster Bridge in central London, opposite the Houses of Parliament.

Along the way they will face 77 “portages”, where they will have to get out of the water to carry their kayak past a lock before getting back in on the other side.

They each expect to burn at least 600 calories per hour, so will be accompanied by a seven-strong support crew to supply them with water, spare clothing and high energy food like sandwiches, boiled potatoes, bananas, and flapjacks all cut into small bite-sized pieces.

The crew will be led by Paul Jackson, 55, a fellow Newbury resident who was set to be Ms Bird’s partner in the race but was unexpectedly diagnosed with prostate cancer during a routine check last autumn.

Mr Jackson, who has also paddled from Devizes to Westminster four times before, twice with his wife Kathryn, has undergone treatment after the disease was caught early and is set to make a full recovery.

Ms Bird, who quickly moved up from racing division 9, or entry level, to the more competitive division 5 in just three months, said: “I absolutely love paddling – it ticks so many boxes for me. It’s great exercise, not as hard on your body as running but still outdoors and mostly in the countryside, with a bit of exciting competition thrown in and a great community of members at the club.

“Paul and I started training together last summer and by autumn we were both keen to try the new relay version of the DW.

“Last year at this time, I thought you had to be a bit mad to want to put yourself through something so challenging, both physically and mentally. But I now fully get the attraction and am so excited to be doing it.”

She has been training up to 15 hours a week by paddling both long distance and interval sessions, along with at least one paddle a week in the dark to prepare for the overnight hours of the race.

“Paul is such a lovely guy, and paddling with him is great fun. I was really looking forward to doing the relay DW with him – we would have only been paddling half the distance, so it would be a gentle introduction to it for me.

“Hearing about Paul’s diagnosis was devastating, but he did always know he would be OK as it was caught very early, which was a huge relief to everyone who knows him.”

Mr Burt placed third in his most recent Devizes to Westminster entry in 2019 and is hoping to help the club regain the team prize—awarded to the club with the fastest combined time for three boats from the same club—which they also won in 2019.

He added: “When I heard about Paul’s withdrawal, I was keen to step in and help out. The diagnosis of a friend makes you realise that we are all susceptible and need to take every opportunity that presents itself.

“Following the Waterside Series organised by Newbury Canoe Club - often considered a warmup to the DW - I’m confident that we are prepared for the challenge ahead.

“The hardest bit will be on the river at four in the morning, when our limbs are aching and we know we still have over five hours of paddling left.

“It will be great having Paul leading our support crew, he is extremely experienced and knows how to keep people motivated.”

Mr Jackson, who first took part in the race more than 30 years ago, said: "Being diagnosed with prostate cancer was a real shock, especially as I had no symptoms and felt fit and well.

“I only went for a blood test because my wife wanted me to get checked out - it had been on the news a lot and we have relatives who have been diagnosed with it. Now I’m so thankful that she persuaded me to go.

“It wasn’t the news I wanted, but now it’s all gone and I’m recovering well. I'd urge all men over 50 to go and get a blood test - it’s so easy and it may save your life.

“As I wasn’t able to compete in this year’s Waterside series and the DW relay, it was great that Alex could take my seat and paddle with Rebecca. To then find out that they are raising money for Prostate Cancer UK by doing the race because of me was touching, it’s such a lovely gesture.”

You can help Rebecca and Alex reach their target by visiting https://www.justgiving.com/page/rebecca-bird-1707593358103

The Devizes to Westminster canoe race can be seen coming through Newbury on March 30.