Quadriplegic adventurer Geoff Holt MBE DL has set sail from St Katherine’s Dock in London in a record-breaking challenge.
The journey will see Geoff and his team circumnavigate the UK coastline in a Cheetah Marine power catamaran over the next four to six weeks.
The team will call at 17 accessible ports across the country with a goal of raising £1.2m for the Wetwheels Foundation, a charity that provides accessible boating to disabled people of all ages.
The charity has a fleet of eight vessels around the UK and hopes to add another four boats as a result of the funds raised in this challenge.
The boats will help the Wetwheels Foundation reach an additional 5,000 disabled people each year.
“Today is the start of the next chapter in my life and possibly my biggest challenge to date,” said Geoff. “Having spent 40 years in a wheelchair, paralysed from the chest down, the sea has been my salvation, the freedom and independence I get when I am afloat, I can forget about my disability.
“I have devoted most of my life to promoting the opportunities and benefits sailing offers disabled people and now this is my opportunity to spread that message throughout the United Kingdom.”
And he explained that the 1,500-mile journey will be a test for his physical endurance and also a mental challenge as he juggles the logistics of navigating through some of the most dangerous and congested waters in the world.
“Only when I cross the finish line back in London and we hit our fundraising targets, will I allow myself to relax,” he said.
“Hopefully, by demonstrating that a quadriplegic, 40 years paralysed from the chest down, still has the ability to achieve his dreams will inspire more disabled people to find out about Wetwheels and support the amazing work we do.”
