Thank you for taking the time to visit my Channel Islands Air Search JustGiving page, I hope you enjoy reading about my challenge and are inspired to donate.

What am I doing?

In Sept 2013 I made an attempt to single-handedly row home across the English Channel from Dartmouth to Guernsey Channel Islands, but it was called off due to strong winds in the Channel. On a date between 10-13th August 2015 (depending on wind speed) I will attempt this again. This is a distance of approximately 75 miles, likely to take up to 20 hours of rowing. I don’t think this has ever been done before.

I haven’t joined an organised event, but have arranged the venture myself with the help of friends and advisors.

Why am I doing this?

I decided for my 40th birthday a couple of years ago now, I wanted to give myself a difficult and meaningful personal challenge. I want to test myself physically and mentally, raise money for charity and do something special to commemorate the 150 Anniversary of my local rowing club, York City in 2013.

Inspired by stories of people who have embarked on solo voyages by kayak and yacht, I decided the only thing holding me back from such an adventure was myself, so I set about making it happen.

This has been an inspiring process and I have gained much in terms of confidence and self-belief, as well as fitness, knowledge of nutrition, training, fund-raising, tides, shipping lanes etc. and will doubtless learn so much more during the crossing about my limits and will gain memories to last a life-time.

Why Yorkshire Air Ambulance and Channel Islands Air Search?

I want to raise money for charities in the communities I have a connection with, namely Yorkshire and the Channel Islands. I grew up messing about outdoors and on the sea and want other people to be able to enjoy, learn from, and experience the beauty of the great outdoors through adventure and sport, but it’s not without its risks. These organisations provide a vital search and rescue service for people who are taken ill or injured in remote or inaccessible places, including at sea.

CHANNEL ISLANDS AIR SEARCH: CIAS is a voluntary organisation which saves lives at sea. It is a rapid response service with a comprehensive Search and limited Rescue capability. The Service's aircraft Lion’s Pride works closely with lifeboats, helicopters, other vessels or aircraft to provide a search capability in the 4,000 square miles of water surrounding the Channel Islands and the adjacent French coast. It is involved in 30 to 40 call outs each year. The Service costs £95,000 a year to run and is solely dependent upon public donations. For more information: www.ci-airsearch.com

YORKSHIRE AIR AMBULANCE: YAA is an independent charity providing a life-saving rapid response service to 5 million people across Yorkshire. It covers a vast landscape that includes major cities and motorways as well as rural and isolated locations. Since launching in 2000, nearly 5,000 patients have been flown to hospitals across the region. YAA relies solely on the generosity of the public and needs to raise £3.6 million a year to keep its two helicopters maintained and in the air to provide the life-saving service. For more information: http://www.yaa.org.uk/

How will donations be used?

I will be meeting all of the costs of the challenge myself, including training, equipment, clothing, guard boat fees, fuel etc.

Therefore, 100% of the donations I receive will go directly to the two chosen charities. This money will be used to maintain the state of the art services that they provide to keep the aircraft and helicopters operational.

Your support means so much

If you would like to donate to CIAS, please click above to give easily and securely. Your donation can help me to smash my target!  If you would like to give to YAA as well or instead, please click on ‘Team’ at the bottom of this page and you will find a link to my YAA page at the bottom of the next screen.

Knowing that all the effort I am putting in will help raise funds for these essential causes will really encourage me to keep going and complete the challenge.

Lastly, a thank you to all the friends and advisors without whose encouragement and support I could not have realised this dream.

Thank you, Jo

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