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LIONS CLUBS INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT 105SW | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Lion Hilary Lister’sRound Britain Dream |
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Dear Fellow Lions, Lionesses and Leo’s,
I am sure most of you will have read in the current edition of The Lion or heard Lion Hilary Lister’s exceptional presentation at MD Convention in Aberdeen and therefore will be aware of her quadriplegic disability and her courageous 2005 solo crossing of the English Channel by yacht and her new project to sail around Britain and part of Ireland in order to raise awareness for disabled sailing.
As announced by the Chairman of Council at MD Convention, her project is to be supported by our Multiple District. During her passage, which will last around three months starting on 9th June, Lion Hilary will look forward to meet fellow members of the Lions family during selected stopovers and will be more than willing to take part in any receptions, fund-raising or publicity arrangements that Clubs wish to arrange. As I am sure you will appreciate, this is a major logistical operation which will be managed by her Support Team with their escort boat, Land Rover and two motor homes, however she and her Team do need support from local Clubs and will therefore be most appreciative of any assistance that can be offered from local Clubs or Zones.
Hilary’s Dream circumnavigation is obviously a major opportunity for publicity and public awareness for
MD105 Lions co-ordination will be made through the MD Marketing/PR Committee with the valuable assistance of the MD IT Team, and District Governors and District Governors Elect for 2008/9.
Please read on for further details about Lion Hilary, her Dream Trust, and our involvement. I am also attaching Hilary’s planned route schedule and the highlighted stopovers where she can be involved and a check-list for completion by Clubs who are able to offer assistance at these locations –
| Passage Plan and event information: | Word Document (219KB) |
Adobe Acrobat file (100 KB) |
Hilary was able-bodied until she was 15, captain of her school netball, hockey and swimming teams. However, she was diagnosed with Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy as a teenager but continued her education qualifying as a Bio-Chemist at Jesus College, Oxford University. She played the clarinet and toured Europe with the Oxford County Youth Orchestra. Although qualifying for the Great Britain Paralympics swimming team, she was unable to take part.
In 1998, Hilary lost the use of her arms and is now totally quadriplegic, only able to move her head, eyes and mouth.
Hilary was winner of the Sunday Times 2005 “Helen Rollason Award for Inspiration”, the New Woman Magazine 2005 “Woman of the Year”, Royal Cruising Club’s 2005 Seamanship Award, awarded a honorary PhD by the University of Kent in 2006 and made UK Sailing Academy Ambassador in 2006.
Her remarkable feats have resulted in live interviews on BBC News, BBC Breakfast and BBC World, Radio 5 Live, Sky Sports as well as French, German, Australian and American radio or TV stations.
All functions, including setting the sails and steering are controlled by the sailor’s breath “sip-puff” - by sucking or blowing down the three pneumatic straws, the rudder, sails can be controlled via a series of motors and winches. The “sip and puff” interface is a chest-mounted control “stalk” within reach of the sailor’s lips.
The objects of the Trust are to promote education and healthy recreation in particular by the provision of facilities for outdoor education, sailing, navigation and leadership, particularly for disabled persons of all ages.
Also to promote facilities for the disabled by providing facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disability, financial hardship or social circumstances with the object of improving their conditions of life; with particular emphasis on people with disabilities or who are socially disadvantaged.
The planned schedule is attached, commencing at Dover on 9th June. We must emphasise that the dates can be affected by weather and sea conditions and Hilary’s health and, if delays do occur, the re-scheduling will be affected by times of tides etc. It is difficult to give timings at this stage since some sailing days can be quite lengthy, and dependant on sea state and wind direction and speed.
Please note that it is only at the highlighted/purple locations that Hilary and the Team will be able to participate in local events, although will welcome any assistance Clubs can offer, and that are listed on the attached check-list for completion and return to me as soon as convenient.
The MD IT Team are arranging a link from the MD website to Hilary’s website (www.hilarylister.com). This link will provide daily information on Hilary’s progress throughout the passage.
In addition I will be in daily contact with Hilary’s Project Team and in the event of delays or necessary re-scheduling I will be in direct contact with the Club(s) concerned and District Governor.
A check-list is attached which we would request ALL Lions Clubs or Zones who are listed in the route schedule and able to offer assistance, to complete and return to me (contact details for return are shown on the form). I must emphasise again that receptions, media interviews, fund-raising can only be available at the locations highlighted on the schedule plan. But Hilary’s Project Team will appreciate any other offers of assistance any of the other locations. Please bear in mind that departure or arrival times can be at inconvenient hours and can be dependant on tides.
Club assistance offers check-list |
“Sailing gives me a sense of freedom that I never thought would be possible again. Sailing quite literally saved my life”
“When you live in a wheelchair or bed 24 hours a day, being in a sail boat is like flying”
I hope this has given you all of the background information and plans for Hilary’s circumnavigation and look forward to hearing shortly from the Clubs who are able to offer assistance and support, which will be much appreciated. Please take this opportunity to help Hilary’s Dream come true and provide your Club and Lions with greater public awareness.
Thank you and best wishes,
Bill Blake
PDG Bill Blake
MD Marketing & PR Committee
| Read PDG Lion Bill's original letter: | Word
Document (359 KB) |
Adobe
Acrobat file (133 KB) |
| Click here to check Hilary's Progress on her own web site |
This Web site is best viewed at a resolution of 1024 by 768
Any comments or queries please email the District IT Officer, Lion Dave Shaer