This August, Cal Major will be stand up paddle boarding 260 miles around the entire Cornish Coast, and beyond, from Plymouth to Croyde.

In exchange, I’m challenging the public to a summer without buying plastic water bottles, and instead using a refillable alternative. It’s cheaper, safer, and healthier for us and our environment. The paddle is being used as a vehicle to raise awareness of the marine litter crisis, but also to empower individuals to make a difference by demonstrating simple solutions.

80% of marine litter originates from land based sources, so the more we use on land, the more ends up in our oceans.

Marine litter is destroying our ocean habitats and eco systems, and yet there is so much that we as individuals can do about it!

In the UK we use 13 billion plastic bottles every year and they are some of the most common things found on UK beach cleans. In the UK we are blessed with clean, safe, abundant drinking water, so using a refillable bottle is a simple solution to help stem the flow of plastic bottles ending up in the ocean. Producing plastic bottles requires a huge energy and oil input, and combined with transportation, results in a massive negative environmental impact; one which is so unecessary.

I’ll be teaming up with local communities along the way, organising beach cleans at several spots around the coast with Surfers Against Sewage (see below for dates). I’ll also be inviting SUP clubs around the coast to join me for legs of the paddle.

The paddle is being used to raise awareness of the issues of single use plastics, but mainly to deliver a message of positivity that individuals can make a difference with simple solutions being proposed along the way.

We will be heavily promoting the paddle through social media channels, blogs and magazine articles. People can follow the progress on Twitter, Facebook and instagram.

We’ll be making a film which I hope to further extend the campaign’s message through an amalgamation of footage from the expedition and the run up, as well as interviews and inserts regarding plastic in the oceans and the solutions that individuals can harness.

I’ll be raising funds for Surfers Against Sewage, to continue their work in conserving our oceans and beaches, through my Justgiving page:

www.justgiving.com/cal-major

I am also pleased to announce that Cal will also be attending this year’s National Watersports Festival (NWF) 2-4 Sept to continue delivering her message far and wide!