Hundreds of people will be taking to the river this weekend in one of the hardest endurance races on the planet.
Over 650 kayakers and canoeists will descend on the rural town of Devizes in Wiltshire and attempt to paddle 125 miles - many without stopping - to Westminster Bridge in Central London.
Every Easter paddlers from around the world come to the UK to take part in the annual Devizes to Westminster International Canoe Race.
This year is no different, as hundreds line up for the DW (as it is more commonly known) to raise money for charity, awareness about a cause, or simply for their own personal sense of challenge.
This is the 71st year of the event - which sees on average a third of participants fail to finish.
Last year the race was shortened at Reading, due to dangerous conditions on the Thames.
Race director Gareth Scragg said: “This year’s race represents unfinished business fo many of last year’s competitors.”
Among those taking part are Ciara Lee and Ollie Harding, who are fundraising for road safety charities Brake and RoadPeace, following the death of Ciara’s husband Eddy last summer.
Eddy was tragically killed by a careless driver in a collision on the M5 last July, leaving behind his young son Seren.
It was after his death that Ciara decided to take on the race to honour his memory.
A keen canoeist and runner himself, Eddy had previously wanted to do the DW with his wife, so tackling the event seemed a fitting tribute.
Ciara is taking part with a DW veteran, Ollie Harding, who has been involved with the race since 1973 as both an athlete and supporter.
The race can either be done across four days, starting on Easter Friday and finishing under Westminster Bridge on Monday morning.
Or it can be done in one go, racing through the night, tackling all 125 miles in one go.
The course record was set 40 years ago, as Tim Cornish and Brian Greenham completed the event in 15 hours and 34 minutes.
As if the distance wasn’t enough, there are also 77 locks along the sections of the Kennet & Avon Canal and River Thames where the race takes place.
Paddlers have to “portage” these locks, getting out of the boat and running around the lock with all their equipment, before getting back in and continuing on.
The race has seen its fair share of celebrity participants - including Olympic rowing medalists James Cracknell and Ben Hunt-Davis who swapped their oars for paddles in 2009 to do the race.
Adventurer Sir Ranulph Fienes, TV presenter Steve Backshall and his wife Olympic rower Helen Glover, and many more have taken on this challenge - nicknamed ‘the canoeist’s Everest.’
Even the Olympic athletes agreed the race is one of the most difficult events in the world - for both mind and body.
