Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

In February 2022 I’ll fly to the Philippines to join the 2019/20 edition of The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, which was cut short when Covid took hold in early 2020. I’ll be on one of 11 boats to set sail from Subic Bay, near Manila, racing up the coast of China, then across the North Pacific to Seattle on some of the wildest seas on the planet. It’ll be cold, wet and uncomfortable, and at times the nearest people outside the race will be on the International Space Station as it passes overhead!

From Seattle we’ll head to Panama, swapping the cold for the stifling heat of the equator and the Doldrums. We’ll pass through the engineering marvel which is the Panama Canal, then through the Caribbean and back up the East Coast of the US to New York. From there we’ll race back across the Atlantic, via Bermuda, to Derry in Northern Ireland, then finish with a final short sprint back to London.

The whole thing will take almost 6 months, and cover a distance of almost 20,000 Nautical Miles. It'll be the biggest sporting challenge I have undertaken, and will test my physical and mental strength to the limit. 

My challenge will be tough, but for many young people everyday life can be even tougher. When children become young adults they may lose the support they previously had, but are often not prepared for the world that awaits them. Around 100,000 young people each year request help from their local council because they are at risk of homelessness. Centrepoint provides short term help through its network of hostels, and long term support to develop the confidence and skills needed to find and keep a home and a job. 

Any donations you make here go direct to Centrepoint - I'd like to raise £10,000, which would cover a hot meal and a bed for the night for 400 people. Please give what you can, and lets reach that target together. Thanks!

If you would like to follow me on the race, please drop me an email at ben.gillingham@mail.com, and I'll keep you updated as to how you can find out more.

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