SURFERS from Dorset have ‘paddled against Putin’ in a gruelling challenge to raise money for Ukraine.

Craig Sharp, Chris Howard, Paige Critchley, Spencer Lee, William Tapper and Lawrence Showel have completed a 26-mile paddle on surfboards from Kimmeridge Bay to Bournemouth Pier.

The group, who regularly surf together at Kimmeridge Bay, navigated hazardous waters along the coast that connects the two Dorset surf spots, and faced waters of 8C in 5mm wetsuits.

Bournemouth Echo:

Chris, who organised the event, said: “The first few hundred metres with tight shoulders was a reality check of the enormity of the challenge.”

The ‘Paddle against Putin’ challenge was launched on Just Giving by the group, who have now raised over £1,867 for UK-Med, a medical aid charity supporting Ukraine.

On the fundraiser, the surfers wrote: “UK-Med are doing some exceptional work in Ukraine trying to get critical supplies to hospitals, and on the borders giving critical care to refugees in exceptionally harsh conditions.

“As a group of surfers from Bournemouth we decided that we should use the arms at our disposal and paddle against Putin's despicable crimes against humanity to help UK-Med in their endeavours.”

Bournemouth Echo:

The surfers set off at 6.30am on April 3, and after nine hours of paddling, the team finally reached Bournemouth Pier, where they were met by an individual sporting a Ukrainian flag.

Chris said: “This was Yuri, a Ukrainian living in Dorset who had seen the paddle on Twitter and had come to welcome the team across the finish line.

“He explained how his family were still back home in Ukraine, told the team of the horrors they had witnessed, and passed his families thanks to the group for their efforts.

“This was an extremely humbling experience for all involved and testament to the courage and strength of the people they had endeavoured to help.”