Paddleboarder takes on 18-mile charity challenge

Catherine Hopkins has worked for the charity since January 2022

A woman has completed an 18.6 mile (30km) paddleboard journey down a canal, paddling for more than nine hours to raise money for an animal welfare charity.

Catherine Hopkins, 40, started working at Warrington Animal Welfare when she was struggling with her mental health, inspired by a love for animals.

Ms Hopkins, of Widnes, Cheshire said working at the rescue had “helped me transform as a person".

Ms Hopkins decided to set off on the charity mission on Wednesday when Simon, a cat from the rescue centre that she was fostering, needed an expensive dental operation.

The operation for Simon will cost £1,000

Ms Hopkins, who bought a paddleboard on Facebook two months ago, said she came up with the idea because the operation was such “an immense cost for a small charity”.

She said she started in “pitch black and foggy” conditions at 06:00 BST on the Bridgewater Canal, paddling for 9.3 miles (15km) before stopping for a pot noodle and hot chocolate break with her parents.

Ms Hopkins added her “knees were wobbling” during the last leg of the journey but her nephew and daughter kept her going by walking alongside.

The trip took more than 10,000 strokes of her paddle, according to a fitness app.

Ms Hopkins spent nine hours on the water for her charity challenge

Simon will now under go the operation next week after Ms Hopkins raised more than more than £1,300.

Warrington Animal Welfare cares for abandoned, abused and unwanted domestic animals.

Ms Hopkins said the centre had a special place in her heart, adding that working at the charity had changed her life.

She said she would like to do another fundraiser in the spring, with plans to paddle the length of Loch Ness in Scotland.