15/6 Tim wrote...

With 6 days to go until we fly out from Heathrow, I was reminded today of the other side of our efforts to raise much needed funds for wounded service personnel, the support we all get from our families and friends.

The day started as most summer Saturday’s, Dad’s top notch pancakes and then wandering over to the cricket club with my son, Cooper, for club training. As we chatted, Cooper asked me if I would be watching him play next weekend, when I reminded him that I was off to Canada on Friday, the look on his face made me realise that whilst the Yukon has filled my thoughts for the past 6 months, it has been all too easy to overlook the impact our efforts have had on those around us.

This week, our wives, partners, families and friends will start to get concerned about what will happen to us in Canada. That concern will turn to worry as we head to the 26th when our paddles finally hit water in earnest and that worry will, no doubt peak when we are due to get to Five Finger rapids sometime on Thursday night. We all need to be mindful of that concern.

For those in the team that have served in the military, we already know how hard it is on the “home team” when loved ones are far away, for everyone else I think we all need to stop and think, amidst the excitement of the build-up those close to us will need re-assurance.

For me it will be extra cuddles for my children this week.