THREE people took part in a challenge to kayak non-stop around Poole Harbour for 24 hours to raise awareness of homeless veterans.

David Wood, the military covenant advisor for the charity, Help 4 Homeless Veterans, took part in the event from 10am on Saturday (Sep18) to 10am on Sunday and was joined by Dina Lincoln, the wife of a veteran, and her son, Arron, for the task.

Martyn Underhill, Dorset's Police and Crime Commissioner, was on hand to cheer the trio on as they got into their kayaks at the start of the event. All equipment for the challenge was provided by the Watersports Academy in Sandbanks and David had notified both the RNLI and the Poole Harbour Commissioners of the group's intentions.

David says that unfortunately Dina and Arron had to drop out of the task later on Saturday due to the weather conditions, but he was determined to power through to the finishing time.

He said: "We did the circuit of the island as we said we would and then Dina and Arron could not continue.

"We were being hit by force four or five winds at the time. We were having some serious issues with the tides, which we were fighting all the time. Even with the support boat and the professional swimmer on board. To be honest, there were parts where it was pretty frightening.

"I finished at 10am on Sunday and went right through the night on my own. I just cracked on with it on Sunday morning."

Asked if he would ever consider doing a similar challenge again, David said: "We will do it again but for 48-hours next time and we will have some professional kayakers with us."

David added that he is hugely grateful for the backing that Martyn Underhill gives to Help 4 Homeless Veterans. "He is a big supporter of us. He phoned me at midnight on Saturday evening, as he knew I was by myself by that point, to check that I was safe and to see how I was getting on."

Mr Underhill said: "I always said in my second term that I would try and raise awareness and improve outcomes for our veterans because they are heroes.

"What the public want to see is our veterans housed and for them to be provided with a wraparound service of care.

"As the Police and Crime Commissioner, I want to embrace the public view and help to improve the veterans' lives."

For more information and to donate, go to Justgiving.com/fundraising/David-Wood72