Hilary Lister's - Round Britain Sailing Challenge

At the age of fifteen, shortly after losing the use of her legs, Hilary Lister was diagnosed with a degenerative neurological condition. She moved to Dunkirk (nr. Faversham) in 1992 but by 1999, her condition had deteriorated to the point whereby she was paralysed from the neck down.

In 2003, Westbere Sailing Opportunities took her Sailing and just two years later following only four hours spent on the water, Hilary reclaimed her freedom in the 6 hours and 13 minutes it took her to sail the Channel. Using the revolutionary ‘sip & puff’ system, she became the first quadriplegic to complete the sail, solo. Hilary hit the front pages of newspapers worldwide and the story still generates interest today. She repeated the feat two years later when she successfully circumnavigated the Isle of Wight.

In June this year (2008), Hilary will be sailing around Britain in order to promote and raise money for her new charity ‘Hilary’s Dream Trust’. The ‘Round Britain Dream’ will consist of a series of day sails, provisionally launching from Dover harbour and heading clockwise around the coast. The team, consisting of three land crew and five water crew, will seek refuge at various ports on route before returning to Dover, Hilary’s local marina, approximately three months later. If successful, she will become the first quadriplegic to circumnavigate Britain, solo.

‘Hilary’s Dream Trust’ has been set up to help fulfil the sailing dreams of disabled adults, or those with significant financial disadvantage. The purpose of the ‘Round Britain Dream’ is to raise awareness of this charity and its aims. Hilary’s aims of the voyage are to:

• Raise awareness for disabled Sailing
• Show that disabled people can live exciting and challenging lives
• Challenge people to rethink their views on disability
• Encourage everyone to live their dreams
• Raise money for her charity, ‘Hilary’s Dream Trust’
  

Follow this link to hear from Hilary herself about her Sailing

Follow this link to Hilary's own website to find out more information about her round Britain Sailing challenge