A world-record rower is cycling 7200km of British coastline and taking part in more than 70 beach cleans along the way.

Kiko Matthews, 38, is stopping off for a beach clean at Gyllyngvase tomorrow at 5pm (Thursday May 16) as part of her efforts to clean up the country.

The inspiring athlete entered the record books on March 22 2018 when she took to sea for the first time only six months after a brain surgery and rowed the Atlantic solo in just 49 days.

She raised more than £100,000 for Kings College Hospital, the hospital that has saved her life twice.

Kiko built a community of women and girls to support her in the run up to and during the crossing.

She said: "I needed a community to support me whilst I was alone at sea and in exchange I wanted to show these women that anything is possible if you work together and support each other.”

With this in mind, she is now aiming to bring communities together whilst engaging and educating them on the issue of ocean plastics.

Falmouth Packet:

The Kik-Plastic tour sees her working with existing beach clean organisers as well as taking the opportunity to expand the growing beach cleaner network around the UK.

She said: “I am working with individuals and existing organisations such as the Marine Conservation Society, Keep Britain Tidy, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and British Kitesurfing Association to help me reach as many people as possible.”

Cycling approximately 60 miles per day for nearly 3 months, Kiko is encouraging all interested cyclists to join as well.

She said: "This challenge isn’t just about cleaning up our beaches, it aims to bring communities together and is a great excuse to get outside with nature and do something positive for the planet and

our health and well-being, all at once.”

It is now estimated that micro-plastics are in every marine animal on our coastlines, as well as in our drinking water and the food we eat. By 2050, it is estimated there will be more plastic in our oceans than fish.

Kiko wants to drive home the message that "we all need to take responsibility for the planet and that our everyday actions have lasting effects."

People can sign up to sponsor or take part in a beach clean, run a beach clean, cycle or follow the KikPlastic journey via the website www.kikomatthews.com/kik-plastic or on social media @kikomatthews and @kikplastic.