In April 2010 I will be joining my crew of Jamaica Lightening Bolt to race our lovely boat in the leg of the Clipper Round the World Ocean Race from San Francisco to Jamaica - our home port!

I will be racing for just over 5 weeks, 24/7, 4 hours on, 4 hours off, hot-bunking, being bruised and bashed about, eating out of tins, drinking desalinated water and only showering every 9 days. In return, all I ask is for you to donate as many pennies as you can spare for the Shooting Star Children's Hospice. Any amount you can donate will be so gratefully received.

Clipper Round the World was set up by Sir Robin Knox-Johnson as a way of giving non professional sailors the opportunity to get a taste for this extreme sport. Ocean Racing is demanding physically, emotionally and mentally. But gives you an amazing life time experience. Anyone that has spent time with me after one of my training sessions will testify to the strain it puts all of us taking part under - and thank you to all of you that have supported me through all of that!

Anyone that believes Yachts are only for G&T's on the sun deck - I am with you - but check out the following:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-yQpwht1bY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0T1XEiosxkY&feature=fvw

It has been a long and hard journey getting to this point, especially as most of my training seems to have been in minus temperatures, force 10's and sleet and lots of rain! In addition to this I have completed my navigation and meterology exams, my sea survival, first aid at sea (scary stuff) and am part way to getting my degree in Operational Yacht Science.

I have met great people and learnt so much from this process so there is no denying that I am benefiting from this experience but I would also love others to. The Shooting Star Children's Hospice is a local charity to my childhood home and they do such amazing work and every penny raised makes a real difference. You can read more about the charity by clicking on their logo on my page.

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Shooting Star Children's Hospice gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation. You can donate from anywhere in the world, as long as you have a credit/debit card. You can only donate in pounds sterling (£ GBP), so you need to work out how much you want to donate and convert it into pounds.

And don't forget to track the boat at the following web address to see how we are getting on:

http://www.clipperroundtheworld.com/index.php/Follow/RaceViewer

So please sponsor me and for those that do - Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.