I first came across Jo a few years ago, but her story truly resonated during the pandemic. My friends and I had originally saved for a milestone trip to New York to celebrate turning 50, but when Covid put an end to those plans, we chose to invest in something different - paddleboarding. It became the perfect way to embrace adventure while staying safely distanced, especially as one of us was high-risk. What started as a practical choice soon evolved into something much more meaningful.

As our enthusiasm for paddleboarding grew, we naturally began noticing others who shared the same passion. Before long, Jo was regularly appearing on our social feeds, her adventures and insights catching our attention. Jo had just completed her coast-to-coast paddleboarding journey from Liverpool to Goole in the summer of 2019. She became the first woman to achieve this feat, covering 162 miles while picking up litter along the way. It was an inspiring adventure, combining environmental awareness with personal challenge. She made a film called Brave Enough that documented the highs and lows of the challenge. I remember watching it and crying at the end as she completed this epic journey, this was one inspirational woman.

Jo has since written two books about paddleboarding and has a third almost finished. As well as being a filmmaker, she’s also a speaker, an Ambassador for Seaful and a Patron for the National Women’s Register. She has accomplished an extraordinary array of achievements, finding immense joy in each of her adventures. Among her many endeavours, she has raised funds for charities through remarkable feats of endurance - rowing an impressive million metres and a marathon, on an indoor rowing machine to support Macmillan Cancer Support, in memory of her beloved mum. She also undertook a creative challenge by "climbing Everest" within a month in her backyard to benefit Skipton Food Bank, showcasing her determination and heart for giving back.

I’ve followed Jo’s journey since the pandemic and now she’s living not far from me up in the beautiful coastal village of Runswick Bay. Here Jo literally has the ocean a stone's throw away so can paddleboard and sea swim to her heart's content (North sea weather permitting). Her travels take her the length and breadth of the country and she enjoys hiking, dancing, creative art and, quite surprisingly, skateboarding! This is a recent new challenge and I wish I’d asked her more about this, but we ended up talking about authors we love and books we’d recommend, (a subject I never tire of talking about). Tracy Chevalier, Freya North, Kristin Hannah and Bonnie Garmus were clear frontrunners that we both loved. 

Perimenopause challenges

Jo kindly agreed to chat to me about her transition from perimenopause to post menopause. When looking back at her own midlife, she describes a moment in 2013 when she found herself sobbing in the biscuit aisle of Tesco, overwhelmed by life’s challenges. At the time, she was 48 years old, a busy single mother, and both of her parents were undergoing 

chemotherapy. She later realised she was experiencing perimenopause, which contributed to her exhaustion, anxiety and most of all sleep. A friend suggested exercise could help, and within two weeks of using the afore-mentioned rowing machine, she found herself sleeping better and feeling more hopeful.

Whilst exercise, time outdoors and prioritising her own self-care did wonders for her sleep and anxiety. She found over time that sleep issues sadly crept back in, Jo, like many of us, really needs her sleep. It forms the essential cornerstone of your day, and its absence can profoundly impact your mental well-being and drain your energy levels.

Jo has some family history that had always made her think she couldn’t use hormone replacement therapy (HRT). But after some genetic testing, it turned out that she was lower risk than she originally thought and she decided she’d like to give it a try. Jo isn’t someone to head straight into something without some prior research, so she made sure she was informed and ready for her GP appointment. 

Although there was a small degree of push-back from the GP, Jo had all the information to make an informed choice about what she wanted. This was relayed to the GP during the phone appointment and after a bit of a Yorkshire stand-off she was able to get her prescription, (sadly a story that doesn’t always end with such a positive outcome).

Jo had carefully weighed the benefits of HRT, particularly for her long-term health. With her mother’s experience of osteoporosis in mind, she had always been conscious of protecting her own bone health, and she knew that taking HRT was a proactive step in safeguarding it. She also knew enough about the progesterone component of HRT to know this can sometimes help with sleep. She was lucky enough to see the positive effects of this quite soon after starting it, so she could restore the energy and motivation she needed for her busy life.

I asked her what advice she would offer to women in midlife who may be stuck, uninspired or feeling overwhelmed. She straight away said, “You need to put yourself first, however that looks to you”. It may be time out for a walk, reading a book, fishing (my own chosen me-time), gardening, even watching a film or cooking. It sounds basic but that’s all it needs to be. Some people need more adrenaline-fuelled adventures for their down-time and that’s brilliant. However, I’m sure I can think of a thousand things to do before chucking myself down a massive descent on a mountain bike, but it’s whatever floats your boat, (or your paddle board in Jo’s case). 

Self-care, emotional wellness, whatever you want to call it, we have been conditioned to think it’s a luxury or a selfish act. Changing the narrative so we aren’t ‘allowing’ ourselves the time to do it, we are just ‘doing’ it as part of our daily lives -  this is where we need to be.

Eager to hear her take, I invited Jo to share which three women, from any time in history, she’d love to invite paddleboarding. After pondering for a moment, she smiled and said her first choice would be a talented author, someone she could quiz about the art of crafting stories. She suggested Bonnie Garmus, the brilliant mind behind Lessons in Chemistry—a remarkable book that I, too, greatly enjoyed. She also requested Nora Ephron, who wrote several iconic films, including When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle and You've Got Mail. 

Lastly she chose Grandma Gatewood, whose real name was Emma Rowena Gatewood. She was the first woman to hike the entire Appalachian Trail solo in 1955, at the age of 67. Her journey was remarkable - she carried minimal gear, wore ordinary plimsolls, and relied on her resourcefulness and the kindness of strangers. She later hiked the trail two more times and became a pioneer in long-distance hiking. Her story is truly inspiring! 

One thing that stood out to me was Jo’s choices - they mirror her own journey and the women she admires. From trailblazers and challenge-seekers to visionary authors and filmmakers, each reflects the qualities she values: courage, creativity, and resilience. Throughout our conversation, her enthusiasm was unmistakable as she spoke about how these remarkable women have forged their own distinct paths.

Jo has transformed her personal challenges into a powerful, uplifting mission - using paddleboarding as a force for joy, connection, and environmental awareness. Her story is one of resilience, adventure, and the beauty of simply giving things a go. Like Jo, we’re all navigating life the best we can (or, let’s be honest, winging it), and her journey reminds us that inspiration is everywhere. Through her openness to new experiences, friendships, and challenges, she encourages us to embrace possibility. I left our conversation feeling like anything is achievable with the right mindset - so thank you, Jo, for sharing what worked for you.

Melanie Dunwell

Your Menopause Nurse

April 2025

 1. Seaful is a UK charity dedicated to reconnecting people with the ocean and waterways to promote mental health, environmental stewardship, and a deeper appreciation for our blue spaces.

 2. The National Women's Register (NWR) is a social organisation that connects women through discussions, activities, and events. It fosters conversation, friendship, and fun in an informal and relaxed style.

Photo credit: Jumpy James