Sport Relief: Blue Peter presenter Helen Skelton is first woman to kayak the Amazon
Last updated 3/1/2010 11:24:11 AM
Sport Relief Helen Skelton is first woman to kayak the Amazon
It's been a long two thousand journey, but Blue Peter presenter Helen Skelton has triumphed in her inspiring, record-breaking kayak trip along the Amazon for Sport Relief.
Helen became the first woman to paddle the length of the river, welcomed by cheers and celebratory gunfire as she crossed the finish line in Almerim, Brazil.
The 26-year-old presenter of the BBC's children show clocked up 2,010 miles after setting off on her solo journey from Natua in Peru on January 20. Helen also broke the record for the longest solo journey by kayak and the longest distance in a kayak in 24 hours by a woman.
Incredibly, the TV presenter - who had never been in a kayak before training – paddled about 60 miles a day, six days a week, to reach the target.
"It's been tough but I've had enough highs to make it more than worthwhile," she said. "I'm very lucky to have amazing people in my life who've picked me up when things got hard and most importantly inspired me to carry on. I reckon that you shouldn't shy away from things because they're tough or you might fail. Get stuck in and you never know where you might end up."
It's hoped Helen's efforts will inspire families to rise to their own challenge for Sport Relief, which takes place from March 19 to 21 and will raise money for charity schemes in the UK as well as developing countries.For more information go to http://www.bbc.co.uk/sportrelief/
More Good News