NINE staff members from Playdale Playgrounds at Haverthwaite undertook a kayaking challenge to support a local charity.

The Playdale Paddlers had to kayak the 11-mile length of Windermere, and they did it in aid of the Bendrigg Trust charity.

The idea came from Frazer Stewart, a design engineer in Playdale’s technical team. Having recently purchased a kayak he was keen to get out more and thought a challenge to work towards would be the best way.

He soon discovered colleagues that owned or had access to kayaks and canoes and were keen to join him.

Bendrigg Trust is one of Playdale’s chosen good causes for 2017. Based in Old Hutton, near Kendal, they are industry leading experts for outdoor and physical activities for people with disabilities.

Twelve weeks of training took place where the dedicated group would head off straight from work twice a week for an evening on the water, practising both on Windermere and Coniston Water.

Despite incessant rain from beginning to end on challenge day, the Playdale Paddlers successfully completed the 11 miles in just three hours and twenty minutes.

They had a support network made up of a kayak transporter supplied by Edmunson Electrical, Windermere Lake Wardens, and a safety boat manned by Dave Ellis and carrying Ryan Douglas from Playdale who kept the team well supplied.

Alison Ellis from Playdale said: “We’re all really proud of ourselves and what we’ve achieved as a team. We’re bowled over with everyone’s generosity and cannot thank our sponsors enough. Every paddler is still buzzing from the experience and it’s definitely given us the impetus to plan a future charity challenge.”

Sponsorship and donations came in from far and wide over many weeks, with a total of £1,428.86 being raised.

At the cheque presentation, a spokesperson for the Bendrigg Trust said: “After closely following the dedicated training and epic challenge day itself, it was wonderful to visit Playdale HQ to meet and thank the infamous Playdale Paddlers in person. The funds raised will help people with disabilities have their own amazing adventures – increasing their self-confidence, promoting independence and realising their full potential."