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Natasha Lambert, with the sip and puff system which will allow her to circumnavigate the Isle of Wight
An inspirational Island teenager, who suffers from cerebral palsy, is sailing around the Isle of Wight for charity today (Sunday).
15-year-old Natasha Lambert’s condition affects all her limbs and her speech, and needs constant help to sit, stand up and eat and drink.
‘Life can be quite difficult for her’, her mum, Amanda Lambert told Isle of Wight Radio.
Natasha controls the helm of her boat, ‘Miss Isle’, using a single straw in her mouth, sipping and puffing to steer to port and starboard.
A tongue switch allows will also allow her to take control of the sails, as she rounds the fifty nautical mile course.
Her mum, Amanda, told Isle of Wight Radio, ‘she absolutely loves sailing’.
‘It gives her a completely new lease of life, a sense of freedom.
‘It’s so exciting! She’s so proud of herself, it gives her amazing self-esteem’.
Natasha fell in love with sailing on a family holiday to the Lake District.
Her dad, Gary, adapted a boat for her, so she could sail using a ‘sip and puff’ system, controlled by a single straw which she holds in her mouth.
Natasha hopes to raise £30,000 for the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, RNLI Lifeboats and Scope Isle of Wight, a charity which helps Island people suffering with cerebral palsy.
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