Ledbury man to make Guinness World Record attempt

Derry Knox, from Kempley, is hoping to make the first successful crossing of the English Channel by tandem stand-up paddleboard.

He’ll be attempting the crossing next month with friend Carl Hendy, from Hereford.

“We are making final preparations for our trip and our seven-day weather window starts on August 7,” said Derry.

“We are both ex-military and discovered paddleboarding during lockdown and immediately got to thinking ‘how far could we go on one of these?’.

“We are doing this primarily to raise funds for a Hereford-based charity called George’s Fund.

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“They do amazing work providing grants and help to families that have terminally ill children, as well as helping families that are struggling.”

Derry and Carl have had support from paddleboard company Bluefin, which has supplied them with a board, and a sports shop in Cardiff called Get on the Water, which has provided paddles.

The adventure is all in aid of George’s Fund, which can be donated to via Herefordshire Community Foundation.

The fund was set up by foundation trustee Laura Hughes in memory of her five-year-old son George, who suddenly became sick in August 2020 and was diagnosed with a brain tumour the next day.

Little George died just six weeks later.

Since then, George’s Fund has raised more than £82,000 - money that is used to give one-off grants to the families of terminally ill children across Herefordshire.

The charity also supports projects that promote the interests of primary-aged children so they can “live their fullest life possible”.

In Laura’s words: “As a mum, one of your jobs is to tell your children that ‘everything is going to be ok’.

“I couldn’t do that for George, so if we as a family can make a small difference to another child’s life then it will give us huge comfort.”

You can support Derry and Carl's World Record Attempt at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/little-george