In remembrance of his deceased daughter, a Sussex father is preparing to paddleboard across the English Channel, which could prove to be one of the most taxing experiences of his life.
Jamie Bartlett-Bundy, who runs a carpentry business in Hassocks, will tackle the 26.5 nautical mile crossing during the week starting August 4th,along with his brother John Bartlett, 56, from Garsington in Oxfordshire.
The mission is deeply personal. In 2017, Jamie lost his 10-year-old daughter Pearl to Ewing sarcoma, a deadly bone cancer. Instead of allowing their sorrow to control them, Jamie and his spouse wife, Rachel channeled their pain into creating #PearlPower, a Special Named Fund in partnership with CCLG: The Children & Young People’s Cancer Association. More than £125,000 has already been raised by the fund, which is entirely focused on developing kinder, more efficient treatments for childhood cancers with low survival rates.
The brothers aren’t newcomers to extreme paddleboarding challenges. They demonstrated their determination in 2023 when they persevered through Storm Babet to complete a torturous 100-kilometer journey from Scotland’s west coast to its east coast. Now, they’ve set their sights on the English Channel. And with this upcoming adventure, they hope to increase their fund by over £10,000.
Jamie’s relationship with paddleboarding began in the aftermath of Pearl’s death. He received a board from Rachel and their son Milo, and what began as a kind gesture turned into something much more. Jamie says, “When you’re out on these long paddles, you’re just there with your own thoughts, with no interference, coming to terms with things.” During his darkest moments, the water became his haven, a place where he could find acceptance.
He has had to turn his everyday routine into a training schedule in order to get ready for the English Channel crossing. Jamie has been training diligently, running, swimming, and paddleboarding for hours on end in a variety of sea conditions.
To hone his abilities, he has even trained with GBSUP, the group that organises national paddleboarding competitions. The exercise regimen is designed to get him ready for anything that the notoriously unpredictable English Channel may throw at him.
Running his carpentry business and juggling this rigorous preparation hasn’t been easy. Jamie acknowledges, “Trying to fit everything in alongside work and life is definitely making the morning routine harder.” He is aware that the task at hand will test every aspect of his preparation and push him to the edge of his abilities, both mentally and physically.
What worries him most about the crossing is the mental aspect of it. He states, “Being out for so long, unable to come in for lunch, with land so far away, will be one of the hardest parts.” Even on the most difficult day, Jamie is determined to have enough energy reserves to finish the crossing with some energy left. “We don’t want to be falling over at the finish line. We want to make sure we’re standing proud at the end.”
Jamie will be just 50 when he takes on this challenge, but he draws strength from an unlikely source. “After seeing what my daughter and all those other children go through, and still smiling, I feel like I’m paling in significance when compared to them,” he reflects. The perspective of what Pearl and countless other young cancer patients endure keeps his own struggles in context.
For Jamie, having his brother John by his side is important. During Pearl’s illness, John was there to support them no matter what. “I rely on his strength and vice versa, and his presence and mental support are important,” Jamie says. John has also participated in other long-distance races for #PearlPower, contributing insightful experience that gives Jamie hope they can successfully cross together.
What makes this fundraising effort particularly meaningful is the direct connection Jamie and Rachel have with the research their money supports. Through CCLG, #PearlPower has provided funding for two innovative research projects, and the couple has met with the scientists that their contributions are assisting. Jamie says, “We know what it’s doing and to see that it’s making a difference is remarkable.”
Jamie has been sharing his paddleboarding journey on social media, documenting his training and raising awareness about childhood cancer and the desperate need for new treatments. The response has been overwhelming. “I’ve had some lovely messages from people saying they’re really enjoying watching my journey and coming along with me, seeing what I’m up to. It’s heartwarming,” he says.
CCLG’s assistance has also been just as encouraging. The organization’s head of fundraising, Vicki Brunt, says they wish Jamie and John luck on their amazing challenge. She continues, “We are so grateful for their efforts, which will help us change the future for children with cancer.”
For Jamie, crossing the Channel is much more than just a physical endurance test. In order to prevent other families from going through the same heartache, it is important to make sure Pearl’s legacy endures. Love, loss, and a resolute will to change the world will drive every paddle stroke.
