Hello! My name is Matt... On 30th September 2025, I plan to kayak all the way from Dungeness, England to Boulogne-sur-Mer, France - around 22 nautical miles (40km).

The Challenge

Crossing the English Channel by kayak is the kind of thing that sounds adventurous, but in reality it's an "extreme physical challenge" (Google's words, not mine).

My goal is to kayak across 40km of open water; with shifting tides, strong currents, rogue waves, and unpredictable weather. The water temperature rarely gets above 18°C, so it’s less “leisurely paddle” and more “ice bath”!

And if that's not enough - the English Channel is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, so I'll also need to dodge ships the size of small towns.

For more information on the challenge, please visit:

https://www.kayakthechannel.com/

Fundraising

In August 2024, I spent a week at the Paralympics in Paris, which was one of the best experiences of my life. Experiencing the Paralympics had such a profound impact on me that it left me motivated me to do something to raise money for disability sport - and the idea to kayak the channel was born!

I'm raising money for Boccia England. For those who don't know Boccia - it's a bit like Chess (it's seriously strategic!) meets Pétanque / Bowling (it's all about precision!).

They key difference with Boccia is that it's primarily a disability sport; it was created for athletes with high support needs. It's the most inclusive sport in the world - anyone can take part - regardless of physical disability, visual impairement, learning disability, age, or gender.

Boccia is the ultimate proof that being an athlete isn't defined by strength or speed; but by skill, heart, and determination.

Donations

I will be raising money for Boccia England - a charity dedicated to improving the physical, social and emotional wellbeing of disabled children and adults through the sport of Boccia.

For many disabled people, Boccia is more than just a sport. It's a lifeline for those who can often feel excluded and marginalised when it comes to physical activity and sport. As Boccia is also a team sport - it also allows players to be part of a community, and allows people to build friendships and social connections with others.

Your donations will change the lives of people with:

• Cerebral palsy

• Physical disabilities

• Visual impairments (including blindness)

• Learning disabilities

• Elderly / Isolated people

The money raised will allow these groups of people to be involved in Sport, and to have the access, support, and material they need to play Boccia.

As part of my challenge, I will need to enlist the help of a support boat - to monitor weather conditions as well as use radar track the location of ships in the vicinity (especially in case of fog). The cost of this support boat will be covered exclusively by myself.

Every single penny raised will go to Boccia England.

Your donations will empower and change the lives of disabled athletes.

For more information, please visit: https://www.bocciaengland.org.uk/