Thursday 1st June 1pm Neatishead.
Quadriplegic cross channel sailor Hilary Lister will be celebrating Nancy Oldfield Trust's 21st birthday with other sailors with disabilities at the Trust's headquarters at Neatishead on Thursday June 1st 1 pm.
The charitable trust, which offers water activities to anyone who is disabled or disadvantaged, will be marking its anniversary milestone with a new look, new logo, new slogan, and new corporate clothing in green and blue to modernise its image.
Guests, who include sailors from the Mariners of Bewl integrated sailing club from Kent, of which Hilary is patron, will attend a flag raising ceremony, and take a trip on one of the Trust's sailing or motor boats on beautiful Barton Broad.
Robin Slatter, Nancy Oldfield Trust Centre Manager, said:
"The new slogan, "Making Adventure Possible," suggests that people can come and do something exciting, something different, something unexpected, something relaxing that they had never thought would be possible.
"We want to reach out to more people with disabilities, particularly day visitors, so they can experience the thrills, sense of adventure and independence which could dramatically improve the quality of their lives."
Hilary, 33, who became the first disabled person to sail solo across the Channel last August using a sip-puff system, explains how it has transformed her life.
"It's given me my life again," she says. "It feels like flying. I flew in a bi-plane doing loop the loops last winter and it isn't half so much fun because you are surrounded by machinery. With sailing you're out alone in the wind and waves with your own wings. It offers that complete and utter freedom to control your own destiny.
"All sailors sail because they love the freedom. But if you're are confined to a wheelchair that thrill is magnified 10,000 times. The Nancy Oldfield Trust is doing a very important job."
Now the former biochemist and clarinet teacher from Kent is planning a Round Britain challenge next summer for which she is seeking sponsorship. She also plans to teach other disabled people to sail.
Hilary embraces similar aims to the Nancy Oldfield Trust. She wants to:
* Raise money so that other disabled people can experience the thrill of sailing
* Show that disabled people can live exciting and challenging lives
* Challenge people to rethink their views on disability
* Encourage everyone to live their dreams.
The Nancy Oldfield Trust, started by Richard Kenyon in 1984, aims to provide anyone of any age who is disabled, mentally or physically, or socially disadvantaged, with the opportunity to take to the water by sailing, canoeing or motor boating. Fishing and bird watching are also on offer.
Guests can stay for a week or weekend at a disabled-friendly waterside bungalow which sleeps 10. Alternatively visits can be for a morning or afternoon session or a whole day.
The Trust keeps the 'Ark', a purpose-built pontoon with sheltered seating, toilet and kitchen, on Barton Broad which enables guests to stay out comfortably on the water all day.
They are supervised throughout by the Trust's RYA qualified permanent staff and pool of 27 trained volunteers, who tailor the activities to the guests' capabilities.
Reproduced by kind permission of
Broads Authority.
