Amy Kenworthy will soon be setting off on a lengthy paddleboard challenge, cleaning ocean debris and raising funds in an attempt to better our ocean pollution crisis.
On the 20thAugust 2019, Amy, a 22-year old Plymouth student will be setting off on an extensive stand up paddleboarding challenge, paddling approximately 100km from The Lizard (Cornwall) to Plymouth (Devon), where she will be cleaning the beaches and ocean along the way, raising awareness of our ocean pollution crisis and collecting funds for Surfers Against Sewage. Amy fell in love with the world of SUP (Stand Up Paddleboarding), experiencing first-hand the immense benefits it had in rehabilitating her from a knee operation last year. Allowing her to keep her fitness and mobility up whilst remaining out on the water. Now, she wants to give back.
As a keen surfer and diver, she is passionate about the ocean and constantly working on ways that she can help protect it. She previously spent three months at Marine Conservation Philippines, set up an online eco surf shop, and now that she is in Plymouth studying Environmental Management and Sustainability, she has set herself this challenge to raise funds to support Surfers Against Sewage who have been working hard since 1990 to protect our oceans.
Amy comments:
“If we want to keep benefitting from the ocean, whether that be as a source of food, leisure or livelihood, we need to look after it. Plastic debris causes the deaths of more than a million seabirds every year, as well as more than 100,000 marine mammals. However, it also affects us. Would you enjoy your next beach holiday if you are surrounded by rubbish on the beach, or not able to go for a swim because of pollution levels? How will plastic affect our health, now that it has been found in our food and drinking water?“
Expecting the trip to take her around a week to complete (depending on the water conditions each day), Amy will be paddling solo, supported by members of the University of Plymouth Yacht Club, where she is one of two Sustainability Officers. They will remain beside her throughout for safety cover and provide her with accommodation during the nights. Amy is also encouraging local Stand Up Paddleboarders along the route to get involved and join her on ocean and beach cleans throughout the journey.
Amy is fundraising for Surfers Against Sewage, a marine conservation charity based in Cornwall, who have been fighting marine pollution since 1990. Today, they deal with a wide spectrum of marine conservation issues such as marine litter and climate change.
“I would especially like to raise money to help fund Surfers Against Sewage’s education programmes, as I too believe that people protect what they love, but they only love what they know. I am excited to be doing the paddle on a Starboard Touring SUP, provided to me by Starboard UK. Starboard has become carbon net positive and has achieved this by planting over 150,000 mangrove trees, making them 10 x carbon net positive, and also have a plastic offset program. Their mission is to not only to make the best boards in the world, but also the best boards forthe world, by using recycled, natural and durable materials.”
Follow Amy to keep track of her progression and to get involved: @paddle4sas
Help Amy reach her fundraising goal: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/paddle4sas
Surfers Against Sewage: https://www.sas.org.uk/
Starboard SUP https://blue.star-board.com// https://sup.star-board.com/