Paddlers for Life Windermere CIO workshop.

Some paddlers assembled at Ambleside Parish Centre to relaunch the charity under its new Charitable Incorporated Organisation registration. Workshop participants. It was an opportunity to look at the history and origins of our dragon boat team. Louisa started with the theme of the 'dragon' and what it means in ... More

Silverdale Coffee Morning fundraiser for Paddlers for Life Windermere.

A huge 'Thank You' to everyone who visited our Coffee Morning fund raiser in the Gaskell Memorial Hall in Silverdale. As always, the residents of Silverdale were very generous with their time and support. Many friends of Paddlers for Life in Silverdale helped with stalls and refreshments and the community came out in ... More

South Lakes paddlers walk.

A group of paddlers got together for a six mile walk in the South Lakes near Kendal. We were lucky to have dry and mild conditions with the sun trying to break through high cloud. We gathered at Sizergh to walk through their park and then through Brigsteer Woods eventually up onto Scout Scar before returning through ... More

Season 2022 sort out!

Paddler volunteers gathered for some end of season tasks. The garage needed a tidy-up, the pontoon needed dismantling and cleaning and the V6 outrigger prepared for the winter off season. The weather forecast was promising... ... but recent rainfall created a problem. The high lake level had flooded the ... More

Our 2022 paddling season ends with flowers.

Our plans for a 'pink paddle', raising breast cancer awareness, were cancelled due to forecast rain and wind gusts. October is breast cancer awareness month. Nevertheless, some paddlers gathered for a flower ceremony, and to close the eyes of our three dragon boat heads. Paddlers reflect on family, friends and ... More

An Aloha Experience: Paddlers for Life Windermere at the World Sprint Championships (IVFWS)

Paddlers for Life Windermere at the GB Outrigger Association 2022 International Va’a Federation World Sprint Championships (IVFWS), 7-16 August 2022, Dorney Lake, Windsor, Great Britain. Since Paddlers for Life breast cancer dragon boat team have an outrigger canoe (OC6), we have been enjoying the new challenge ... More

Platinum Jubilee 2022

Another paddling adventure. In 2012 two of our founder members Sue and Louisa had the vision for Paddlers for Life to participate in the Queen's Diamond Jubilee pageant on the Thames in London. Ten years later Louisa encouraged us all to remember this by paddling our dragon boats on Windermere as part of the 'Light ... More

‘Eye-dotting’ ceremony 2022.

We awaken our dragons with a traditional ceremony. It was wonderful to be able to get together in person again for an 'eye-dotting' ceremony. Paddlers for Life members participate in the 'eye dotting' ceremony. Louisa led the ceremony with help from Irene who told the story of the poet Qu Yuan and the origins ... More

Our team helps with the 5 do 5 Windermere challenge.

A fund raising challenge remembering a special friend. Lisa, Julie, Julie, Lynn, and Sarah have set themselves 5 challenges across and around Windermere which will include land and water based activities. It is in memory of a dear friend Amanda Wilson and aims to raise money for Blackwell Sailing, CancerCare North ... More

Ākala Susie naming ceremony.

Our V6 outrigger canoe is named. The V6 outrigger is named 'Ākala Susie' in fond remembrance of one of our team's founders, Sue Cogley. Ākala Susie also got her first outing of 2022 over two paddling sessions. Paddlers for Life members, experienced and newer, gathered for the ceremony. It was a damp and misty day ... More