70 mile paddle for Allyson

Jennifer Greenlees will attempt a stand-up 70-mile paddle board along the North Channel from Portballintrae to Bangor from Good Friday to Easter Sunday.

Jennifer, who teaches surfing and paddle boarding at Portballintrae, is dedicating her acquatic feat to her cousin, Allyson Bell (51), from Larne, who passed away after a battle with cancer on March 14.

Various fundraising events were held in Larne to get Allyson to Canada for treatment before she died.

Now Jennifer hopes to raise £5,000 for Marie Curie in Alison’s memory. She said: “Allyson’s mum who passed away last Christmas had raised thousands for Marie Curie so I thought it would be the right charity to support.”

Jennifer - who spends a lot of her free time on the water around the north coast - has been in training for her long-distance paddle since Christmas. “I came up with the idea of the paddle before Christmas and I’m hoping to raise £5,000.

“I’ve done a lot of the coastline already Portrush to Ballintoy and also around Larne and Holywood. Generally during the summer months I’m teaching out on the sea at least five days a week.

“Depending on the tides I should have a five-hour window each day over three days to complete the paddle.”

Jennifer is very grateful for the support she has received so far from family and friends.

Anyone wishing to contribute to her fund can visit justgiving.com/jennifer-greenlees