David heads to Ireland for latest world record feat
Alliance of Sport Ambassador David Haze is setting off on another world record-chasing adventure to raise funds to support our work.
David is flying to Ireland on Thursday November 11 to stand-up paddleboard the 43.5km (27 miles) across the country’s longest lake, Lough Corrib – aiming to set a world record time.
He’s hoping to smash the fundraising target of £2500 he set before his last record-breaking feat in September, when David paddleboarded 208km along the non-tidal Rivers Thames, beating the previous world record by 10 hours.
That followed on from last summer’s incredible 4 Lakes in 4 Days feat when he broke four records on the longest lake in Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Wales in four consecutive days.
Help David beat his fundraising target on his JustGiving page.
David’s Lough Corrib escapade is part of a series of personal challenges he’s named ‘Untamed Beasts’ which will take him to Iceland in the New Year and then, next May, on his most ambitious challenge yet.
He plans to traverse 33 lakes in 33 countries across Europe in 66 days, setting new world records on every lake. “Logistically I’ve calculated that I will have time to do it – as long as the weather and my body hold up!” he says.
David spoke to Nick Butter, who two years ago ran a marathon in every country in the world. “I thought, if he can do that then why can’t I do this?” he says. “Nick’s team and agent told me that I have started off in exactly the same way as he did – get a few challenges under your belt, get your name out there and build your support team and sponsors from there.
“Paddleboarding is undergoing such growth and with my story, people will get behind me.”
David’s story is a compelling one. His passion for the Alliance of Sport’s work in promoting the power of sport for reform and rehabilitation began during his second spell in HMP Guys Marsh. When he was released in April 2020, he was determined to use sport to help reduce crime and reoffending.
Whilst inside, David was inspired by the work of Penal Reform Solutions, with whom he now works full time, researching issues related to the mental health of young people in the Criminal Justice System.
