Banking on our canals

A local canal was my happy place during the pandemic. I’d head there to walk or run, sometimes with the kids and the dog, and it connected me with the great outdoors. I fell so in love with it that I have become an Ambassador for the Canal and River Trust.

It’s a great charity and it has organised a Canalathon Challenge across 2,000 miles of the nation’s waterways. The CRT is asking people to walk or run 26.2 miles along their local canal or river this July. Almost nine million people live less than a mile from one, making them popular and accessible places to exercise, away from the hustle and bustle of daily life.

Proceeds will help preserve historic waterways that require constant care and maintenance from an army of volunteers.

It isn’t a race and participants can walk or run the 26.2 miles in one go or in bite-sized chunks – solo, or in a team of family, friends, or colleagues. My whole family will join me... and Vera the dog. Details of how to volunteer or donate to the CRT can be found at canalrivertrust.org.uk.

Go on – see you out there!