Resilience and Persistence

This was my third attempt at taking my white water leader assessment, after my 2nd attempt and failure in November last year it hit me really hard.

When I first passed my assessment it felt unreal. This was actually my third attempt at taking my assessment and I

Text to paul

Everytime I saw a guinea pig post I felt stressed

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I don't believe in fate, but I love the word serendipity. So many of the incredible things that happen in this life start with a little decision or a chance encounter. I made a little decision that led me to a passion and community I couldn't have dreamed of. Something I thought was for other people, or maybe just something you see on fictional TV shows and didn't really exist in the real word.

I can't even begin to explain how much support and help I have had on my paddling journey so far. From Bridgnorth Canoe Club at the very beginning just over 2 years ago to the support of my friends at Wombourne Kayak Club in helping me achieve everything I have so far. From mentoring and coaching, Paul playing unconscious in freezing cold water in march as I flipped him back onto my paddleboard over and over whilst preparing for my touring leader assessment and Iain and Neil repeatedly hanging upside down in an eddy while I practice hand of god rescues a couple of weeks ago.

I remember Jamie Greenhalge saying to me last September on a White Water Safety and Rescue course whilst we were discussing the lack of support that some of the ladies there had experienced from their respective clubs, that he got the impression that I had been nurtured within my clubs. And I think that's the perfect way to put it. I have been nurtured and supported a whole lot, by so many people who I know want to see me succeed, as I want to see and help them succeed in their own goals. I have had so much help to achieve everything I have so far and I just couldn't have done any of it without that. And I am now in a position to pay that forward and I intend to, but I know I will also need more help and love and support because I don't plan on stopping here.

And that doesn't even begin everyone that have helped me, I have friends all across the country and many in North Wales, I have paddled with so many absolutely amazing people, Every weekend at the Tryweryn I see so many people to speak to and it makes me so happy to be apart of something so much bigger than myself. After my

I want to thank you all and tell you how much love I have for all of you. It's about so much more than helping me with my goals, its the friendships and bonds we share, all center around the love of white water but extends so much further. so My life felt so empty before and I never believed it could feel so full.

I have had not the best time over the last few years, but the course of my life was altered by a google search for kayak rental, I decided I wanted to have a little paddle somewhere on the River Severn, and one of the first things that came up was Bridgnorth Canoe Club. I've lived in or around Bridgnorth most of my life and I had no idea we had a canoe club but then I guess I was never looking. So I contacted Anna and asked if I could come along.

I remember the first session in May 2022 trying to paddle up the river, the rest of the group moved ahead of me but Jude and Deb stayed with me as I struggled to stop my kayak turning in circles. I loved it, every week I looked forward to a Wednesday night. But it all really clicked the first time we did an intro to white water session at Jackfield. From the moment I did my first run down that short section of rapids, I knew this is what I wanted to do all day, every day. And I've haven't lost that feeling since. Iain Campbell was a strong

I find myself surprising myself all the time. Doing things I never thought I could do, and

I'm the sort of person that generally quits