In this month’s Paddler Spotlight, Kate Allatt kindly shares her story of overcoming full paralysis to learning to stand up paddleboard at the age of 54. Through paddleboarding, Kate has found solace, strength, and a renewed sense of peace, purpose, and community.
Fifteen years ago, Kate’s life changed in an instant. At 39, she suffered full paralysis following a rare brainstem stroke. Once an avid fell runner, covering 70 miles a week, she was told she would never regain her physical independence.
But Kate refused to accept that. At Ogston Sailing Club in Derbyshire, she worked with instructors Katie and Chris to achieve something she once thought impossible: standing on her board. Throughout three sessions, they helped adapt Kate’s stand movement.
With every session, Kate grew stronger, and the SUP community became a vital part of her life.
Words by Kate Allatt
I had my first lesson in May 2024. I considered it for two years but didn’t have the confidence to give it a go until I actively decided to pivot my life. I wanted to do something active, challenging yet peaceful. Paddling seemed to give me all those things so I took the plunge, literally!
Katie and Chris at Ogston Sailing Club were extremely patient and videoed it on my phone to embed the standing action in my brain. I was re-wiring my brain all over again! That’s exactly what I did at 39 to bring back to life every nerve, sinew and muscle in my body in hospital.
Then, I had an ‘I will not fail’ mindset. I still have it. So think it. Dream it. Try it. Fail at it. Then try it again. You can’t but achieve. It’s a simple strategy that works. It’s not impossible but I’m possible.
Ogston Sailing Club has been a fantastic base to build my confidence and community. I live close to Ladybower Reservoir, which is stunning and I plan to paddle at Runswick Bay, Beadnell, and Lake Bala this year.
My paddling tribe has helped me find me again. They accept me for who I am—not for being disabled, not for my past as a global advocate, but just as me. That’s the power of this community. I also think being labelled a ‘disabled paddler’ is a label I would be uncomfortable with. I don’t have that at Ogston, I’m just one of their SUP community who enjoys the water with everyone else at the same time as everyone else.
Paddleboarding helped to pivot my personal life, where I was a bit stuck, unhappy and lonely. I’ve been accepted and connected with paddlers who have become dear friends.
When I discovered paddle boarding, I discovered a community that made me feel accepted and comfortable with the woman I am. I always felt safe with fellow young stroke survivors, but truthfully, I have always had a 70-mile-fell-runner mindset trapped in a less able, broken body since my stroke. A source of much anxiety over the years.
I imagine many people with an acquired disability have similar feelings. Most importantly, paddling has finally allowed me to enjoy a level of personal acceptance in my loss cycle.
I find paddling so peaceful and it is mindfulness personified. I can’t think about any stress in my life because I’d fall off!
Peace is a priority in what has been a very crazy life and the connection with nature allows me to take lots of landscape pictures, my other passion. Paddling also improves my coordination and balance.
Having the confidence to take the plunge is the hardest thing. I’m very motivated but I struggled with my confidence. One day, I was going to book my first lesson, then the next day I convinced myself paddle boarding was a ridiculous pipe dream.
The biggest battle we have is with the tricks our minds play on us. So my best advice is to silence the self-doubt by just giving it a try. What’s the worst that can happen? You don’t have a second lesson?
My goal now since connecting with Paddle UK and being a guest on the SUPFM podcast is to support and help develop inclusive paddling amongst stroke survivors in the UK. I want to use my networking, speaking and training to increase inclusive engagement in paddling. I hope the paddling community can help me.
Thank you Kate for sharing your story with us. If you’ve been inspired by Kate to give stand up paddleboarding a try, find your local club or paddling centre.
You could be our next Paddler Spotlight feature! We’d love to hear about your journey into paddling and the great work happening in the community. See how you can get involved and share your story with us here.