Almost to the day 12 months ago, I joined the fantastic charity The Mission to Seafarers on a part time basis as Trusts Executive.

Prior to this I was aware of the charity and its work BUT I was totally unaware just how significant and important this work is.

Worldwide, there are around 1.5m seafarers at sea, both male and female.

Most endure extremely prolonged hours working long contracts away from their loved ones, with some at risk of piracy, abandonment, isolation and not being paid.

I didn’t appreciate the significant role these brave seafarers play in all our lives … but when you consider 90% of all goods arrives on our shores by boat … everything from food, medical supplies, raw materials, clothing and the luxury items we often take for granted.

Life at sea is difficult enough but this pandemic has had a devastating effect for them, both physically and mentally.

Due to the worldwide lockdown all shore leave was cancelled preventing the seafarers from visiting our port-side Seafarer hospitality centres to stretch their legs and get a short period of R&R before returning to their ships.

For many they have been unable to return home after their contract ends and they are stuck onboard their metal homes at sea. As I type this there are 300,000 prevented from going home and as many unable to get to their ships to start their contract. 

Many ships don’t have internet meaning seafarers can’t even contact their families back home.

The cruise industry is decimated and believe it or not some cruise liners employed 1,000 seafarers per ship to look after the tourists.

We have had to close our Centres during lockdown but we haven’t shut up shop, as our port-side Chaplains around the world just kept going, risking their own health and safety … providing gangway ship visits, getting shopping for seafarers, supplying sim cards and being there to provide welfare, guidance and support 24 hours a day.

We need more funds to keep doing what we do best .. to support these key workers of the maritime industry at this particularly difficult time.

As part of our ‘Flying Angel Campaign’ I’m embarking on a 90-day challenge to walk 1 Million Steps, that’s an average of 11,111 each and every day. Some days I’ll do more steps, others much less!

I’m starting on Monday 28 September and finishing on Boxing Day 26 December.

I do hope you will support me with my challenge with as much of a donation you can spare. Thank you very much.

For more details of the wonderful work we do please visit www.missiontoseafarers.org