Lara's kayak challenge

Between the 7th and 9th of July, I will be navigating the canals of Venice in a race against time, kayaking under 40 bridges, then taking on the challenge of circumnavigating the beautiful island of Murano. I will be raising funds for the multi-award winning charity, The Change Foundation and Sutton and Epsom Rugby Club have kindly offered to match all the money I raise. The Change Foundation uses the power of sport to change the lives of young people facing a wide range of challenges and their most recent work involves setting up safe play zones for refugee children in Poland as they come over the border from Ukraine, giving their parents or guardians time to contact family members left behind, knowing that their children are running around for a few hours with a smile on their faces, making new friends and burning off some energy and anxiety. The charity is also planning a series of sports summer camps for recently arrived young Ukrainian refugees into the UK, which will give them the chance to meet other refugee children and help them integrate into their new homes through playing sport with children from their host families and from their town or village. The Change Foundation has also pioneered the use of a wide range of sports to create a social impact, including the use of netball to teach teenage girls how to stay safe online and making rugby more inclusive through the creation of the new sport of visually impaired rugby. To find out more about the charity's work please go to thechangefoundation.org.uk