For those of you who remember my ill-advised attempt at the London Marathon, it was a pretty unpleasant event. For those with no legs, unpleasant doesn't begin to describe the effort and boring pushing that was involved. Normally I'd love this as people kept throwing Jelly Babies at me. Unfortunately, I had a job to do and even that wasn't done particularly well. The good news, however, is that I raised over £10,000 for the Spinal Injuries Association!

So why am I calling on you again? Well, similar reason really, I’m competing in an event that seems equally ill-advised but, at least, I get a bunk and they have a bar on board. Nicholas, super-brother and valiant support team, and I are crossing the Atlantic in a tall ship, the SV Tenacious. Again, something you would generally expect to need legs for, but this three-masted sailing ship has been adapted to allow the disabled on board so that they can take part in this life-changing experience. It is 65 metres long and it is rigged as a three-masted barque with two mizzen gaffs. (Whatever they are?)

There are about 40 of us on board, all damaged, mentally or physically, plus 11 permanent crew, Captain etc. We all take part in night watches, galley-shifts, splicing the mainbrace and rigging the thingamajigs. They get people in wheelchairs right up to the crow’s-nest; can you believe it!

So, we do an 8-day coastal trip this forthcoming March to test our mettle, followed by a 30-day transatlantic trip early next year. The Jubilee Sailing Trust is a registered charity with berths heavily subsidised by generous donors including the Royal Navy. We are all also asked to dip into our pockets and raise some money towards the voyages both for us and for others who find it more of a struggle to afford it.

Open sailing, working hard and the camaraderie that follows help people gain a true sense of self-worth, capability and potential if feelings restricted or trapped. The power of a determined and courageous attitude gives those, sometimes struggling, the ability to overcome huge obstacles.

To this end, I would like to ask you to help me and the charity out. Just a few pounds would help and me and Nick enormously and we will, in turn, raise a glass of grog to your good health whilst trying to keep our supper down.