TWO canoeing enthusiasts known as “The Cotswolds Canoeists” have completed a 1,000-mile North American paddle race - with their challenge raising over £18,000 for charity.

Charlie Stanley-Evans and Justin Wateridge undertook the Yukon 1000, which claims to be the longest paddle race in the world.

Together, they have raised more than £18,100 for The Charlie Waller Trust and The Drinks Trust.

The event saw around 20 teams race from Whitehorse, the capital of the Yukon in Canada, to the Dalton Highway in the US state of Alaska.

Justin, who lives just outside Charlton and is managing director of Steppes Travel in Cirencester, completed the feat with Charlie in some eight days.

Amid the race, the pair had to contend with extreme temperatures, bush fires, high winds and bear spray in their tent, which they pitched where they could.

The duo paddled for up to 18 hours a day and were totally self-sufficient during the challenge.

The Charlie Waller Trust was founded in response to the suicide of Charlie Waller, who died aged 28 in 1997.

A registered charity, it delivers mental health training, resources and consultancy with a focal point on children and young people.

The Drinks Trust, meanwhile, is a charity dedicated to drinks and hospitality workers.

Its mission is to help financially, restore wellbeing and develop the skills of this group.

Commenting on his and Justin’s race, Charlie said: “The Yukon 1000 is undoubtedly a physical challenge, but it is also very much a mental one.

“It was hard to keep going, but we had to dig deep and rely on each other.

“It is impressive what the human body can put up with - what we can endure if we put our minds to it.”

“We had no gauge of how we were doing and no knowledge of where other racers were,” Justin added.

“We were alone, dwarfed by the river’s size.”

Justin and Charlie were sponsored by the Cotswolds Distillery, Steppes Travel and Private Cellar.

To support the pair, visit tinyurl.com/ycyhhdze