Kayakers hope to set world record

A former Bay St. George resident is hoping to earn a world record later this month when she and a British man attempt crossing the English Channel together in a kayak.

Cathy Piros was born in Burgeo and moved to Stephenville when she was two-years-old, spending the majority of her childhood with godparents Alison and Don Powell.

"I've always been fairly athletic throughout most of my life and growing up, going to Stephenville High, I was one of the bunch that was always on the volleyball, basketball, track or whatever team I could get myself into," said Ms. Piros.

She played trumpet in the school's concert and jazz bands, and played classical guitar at the local Rotary Music Festival. She also earned her bronze Duke of Edinburgh medal before moving to Ontario at the age of 16.

"Since leaving Stephenville, I spent five years in Ontario, two of which were spent studying psychology at Trent University," said Ms. Piros. "However, after a lifelong yearning to be closer to my roots, in the summer of 2008 I moved to Sweden."

Ms. Piro is due to complete a degree in international relations at MalmÖ University next year. She has maintained her athletic interests - in August 2009, she swam seven km in the ocean for charity. Jamie Geikie, a British man, acted as a support by following along side her in a kayak.

"After that, we were having a few beers and wondering what's next, and he was like, 'Why not cross the English Channel in kayak?' And then we thought, 'What the hell, why not?'"

They contacted and were given the go-ahead by Guinness World Records to attempt the journey.

"Currently the record is for a man-man team in tandem, and they did it in two and a half hours. But a man and a woman have yet to attempt it [as a team] for a record," said Ms. Piros. "So, me and this bloke from the UK, if we make it in less than six hours, we get the Guinness Record."

With numerous hours spent at the gym, a kayak registered in their name and a support boat confirmed, the pair are going to attempt the 40km trip from Dover, United Kingdom, to Calais, France.

"I came to UK for May to put in some practical training on the water, before the event we aim to have at least 150 miles on the ocean under our belt," said Ms. Piros, who described the upcoming attempt as both exciting and nerve racking.

"I'm personally doing it more so for ego and to say that I can, but I'll be raising money on behalf of the Canadian Diabetes Association."

Ms. Piros worked with the association for two years in Peterborough, ON, and she said she wanted to raise awareness and honour two friends affected by the disease, Bill Strabbing of Ontario and the late Dr. George Grant of the Bay St. George Area.

Mr. Geikie is raising money for CLIC Sargent, a UK charity focused on helping children with cancer.

For more information, visit the Facebook group, Kati Piros Crosses the English Channel for Canadian Diabetes Association, or http://my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?registrationID=850855.

editor@thegeorgian.ca