My name is Christopher Shepheard-Walwyn. I am seventeen and I attend a boarding school in Dorset. It was there that I met Kellie Maher, a sufferer of Vasovagal Syncope and POTs (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia syndrome), who is now my girlfriend. When she began to be affected by these symptoms the psychological and physical effects it had on her came as quite a shock, as you can imagine. Everyone around Kellie, and Kellie in particular, began to feel distressed and worried.

In the days before Kellie found STARS Charity she was fainting in excess of 10 times a day. Tasks that used to be relatively simple such as going out with friends, going to afternoon sports and even climbing stairs became terribly difficult for her and to add to this there was the constant worry that was weighing on everyone’s mind of what was actually wrong with her.

When Kellie found STARS charity it helped a great deal and she finally discovered that what she was suffering from was POTs and Vasovagal Syncope. This in itself helped her greatly as she was assured that she was not going crazy and, better still, that she was not alone. By attending the STARS conference she gained a much better understanding of her condition and also met specialists that could help her, as a result she is now on Midrodine, which has greatly improved her quality of life.

As a result of the great help STARS has offered Kellie, I would like to do my bit to raise money for the cause and to raise public awareness about this condition. Therefore I am endeavouring to undertake a cross-channel row from Shakespeare Beach near Dover to Cap Gris Nez in a single-skull (a one man rowing boat).

I have a group of well informed boatmen who have assisted me on planning this row as well as the crossing itself and providing necessary support. One of these boatmen is Michael Stubbs an experienced cross Channel / Ocean rower, he was the skipper for the Pink lady who crossed the Atlantic in 2004 and he is also the record holder for the quickest row from Jersey to Poole. Although I have every intention in completing this row, there are some factors, such as the weather, that are beyond my control. However at this stage all is looking very optimistic and my training is  underway, which at the moment entails three hours a day, six days a week.

I intend to do the row in late June 2008 however the exact date will depend greatly on the weather conditions. I very much hope that many of you will be willing to support me in something that is no easy task for the sake of a charity that helps so many people to regain hope.