Celebrities take to the water for Stand Up To Cancer’s Great Canoe Challenge

Celebrities have been picking up their paddles to join a heroic team powering their way through waterways of the North West for Stand Up To Cancer’s Great Canoe Challenge.

Showing grit and determination, the ‘Paddlers’; Carla Bradbury, Jag Chather, David Sing and Helen Weller, who have all been affected by cancer, have been rowing five marathons in five days. The team set off from Chester on Monday 25th September and are set to finish the challenge in the heart of Liverpool, at the Albert Docks, on Friday 29th September.

Hollyoaks actress Anna Passey (Sienna Blake), Made In Chelsea's Sam Thompson, Liberty X singer Michelle Heaton, Judge Rinder star Robert Rinder, TV presenter Anthea Turner, The Only Way Is Essex star Chris Clark, Love Island's Jess Shears and Dom Lever along with a host of other celebs have partnered with the Paddlers in their canoes each day to help them reach the finish line.

Carla Bradbury, who has survived cervical cancer, said: “Preparing to take on the challenge made me think about when I was going through treatment. I was so weak, I couldn’t exercise, I couldn’t even stand up in the shower. Reflecting back made me realise how far I’ve come. I couldn’t feel more ready to take on the Great Canoe Challenge. I’m determined to raise as much money as possible so we can fund Stand Up To Cancer’s amazing research. Because research will save lives.

“The challenge comes at a nerve-racking but exciting time for me. My five year appointment with my oncologist is on the Monday after and I’m hoping to get the all clear. All being well, I am planning on getting a tattoo to mark the moment and celebrate that I have beaten the disease.”

Michelle Heaton, said: “Taking part in the Great Canoe Challenge was a no-brainer for me. When I discovered I was a carrier of a faulty version of the BRCA2 gene, it was devastating. I felt like my world had been turned upside down. I want to do everything I can to help to raise money for research because I know it’s the key to defeating this disease. Meeting all the paddlers who’ve experienced cancer first-hand is going to be my motivation. It’s a tough challenge but I’m really looking forward to sharing stories, having some fun along the way and being involved in something I feel so deeply passionate about.”

Made In Chelsea star Sam Thompson took part in day three.

Stand Up To Cancer is a joint ­­national fundraising campaign from Cancer Research UK and Channel 4. Launched in the UK in 2012, Stand Up To Cancer funds game-changing research that accelerates new cancer treatments and test to UK patients to save more lives, faster. More than £38 million has been raised in the UK to date and over 40 trials and projects have been funded, that will involve more than 10,000 cancer patients.

For more information visit: standuptocancer.org.uk/canoe, to support the Paddlers and donate £5 or £10 text CANOE5 orCANOE10 to 70404*, or donate online at standuptocancer.org.uk/canoe

See our gallery of all the celebrities and our Paddlers:

To support the Paddlers and donate £5 or £10 text CANOE5 orCANOE10 to 70404*, or donate online at standuptocancer.org.uk/canoe

• Stand Up To Cancer