This summer, British paddleboarder Jamie BartlettBundy will embark on one of the most emotional and physically demanding crossings of his life: a 26.5-nautical-mile paddle across the English Channel, in memory of his daughter Pearl.
Jamie, 49, a carpenter from Hassocks in Sussex, lost Pearl to Ewing sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, in 2017 when she was just 10 years old. In the aftermath of their loss, Jamie and his wife Rachel created #PearlPower, a Special Named Fund under the The Children & Young People’s Cancer Association (CCLG). The fund has since raised over £125,000 to support research into less harmful and more effective treatments for childhood cancers with poor outcomes.
This latest paddleboarding challenge—dubbed Paddle4Pearl—is set to take place during the week of August 4 and will be Jamie’s second endurance mission on a board. In 2023, he and his older brother John Bartlett, 56, paddled 100km across Scotland during the chaos of Storm Babet. Now, they’re aiming for something even more iconic: crossing from England to France by SUP to raise an additional £10,000 for their cause.
“I’ve been working hard, training every day in some way, running or swimming,” Jamie says.
“The morning routine is definitely getting harder, trying to fit everything in alongside work and life.”
Jamie has thrown himself into a rigorous fitness and paddling regimen, including hours on the sea in all conditions and training support from GBSUP, the UK’s governing body for competitive paddleboarding. The goal: to build both the mental and physical strength needed to withstand the demands of the Channel, one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.
“The challenge itself is physical and mental, so it’s about being prepared to take on whatever hits us,” Jamie explains.
“One of the hardest parts will be being out for such a long time, unable to come in for lunch, with land so far away.
I want to make sure I’ve got enough in the tank to be able to do it on a really tough day and have a little bit left over.
We won’t be falling over at the finish line. We want to be making sure we’re standing proud at the end.”
For Jamie, the drive comes from a much deeper place than personal achievement.
“I know it’ll be hard. But after seeing what my daughter and all those other children go through, and still smile,
I feel like I’m paling in significance when compared to them.”
There’s also no one else he’d rather have beside him on the water than his brother John.
“Of all the people I’d want to do this with, it’s my brother, with him being with me throughout Pearl’s illness.
His strength is something I rely on, and vice versa, and his mental support, and his being with me, is vital.”
Beyond the water and the workouts, #PearlPower has already funded two major research projects—giving Jamie and Rachel the rare opportunity to witness the impact of their fundraising firsthand.
“Rachel and I have met with the scientists that we’ve put money towards, so you can see what’s going on,” Jamie says.
“We know what it’s doing and to see that it’s making a difference is remarkable. It’s tangible and a driving force as well.
I think it makes us get up and keep going.”
“We’re changing people’s lives: children’s lives, their parents’ lives, their brothers’ and sisters’ lives. Their grandparents’ lives.”
Jamie first stepped onto a paddleboard after Pearl’s passing. It was a gift from Rachel and their son Milo—a lifeline, he says, during the most difficult time of his life.
“When you’re out on these long paddles, you’re just there with your own thoughts, with no interferences, coming to terms with things.”
Through his journey, he’s gained more than just stamina—he’s built a community. On social media, Jamie has been sharing his story to raise awareness about childhood cancer and the urgent need for progress in research. 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.”
Vicki Brunt, Head of Fundraising at CCLG, says Jamie and John’s efforts have already made a difference.
“We’re wishing Jamie and John the best of luck for their incredible challenge.
We can’t thank them enough for their efforts, which will help us change the future for children with cancer.”
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