Charity Supporting People With Life-Changing Injuries To Make Round The Island Race Debut

(c) Stride Forward

A charity that supports people living with life-changing physical injuries will make its debut in this weekend's Round the Island Race.

Stride Forward, which provides mentoring and support for people who have suffered serious physical trauma leading to disability, will take on the iconic sailing event for the first time on Saturday.

The charity's crew will be led by record-breaking sailor Brian Thompson, the first Briton to break the world sailing speed record twice and the first person to complete four non-stop circumnavigations of the globe.

Some members of the Stride Forward crew have never sailed before, making the challenge an opportunity to build confidence while raising awareness of the charity's work.

Stride Forward says taking part in the Round the Island Race is about more than simply completing the course.

It hopes the event will highlight the support available to people adapting to life after serious injury, while also encouraging more volunteer mentors to come forward.

The Round the Island Race, which starts and finishes in Cowes, is one of the world's largest yacht races and is the fourth-largest mass participation sporting event in the UK after the London Marathon, the Great North Run and the Great South Run.

Organisers say the charity's first appearance in the race reflects its mission to help people move forward after life-changing injuries by embracing new challenges and experiences.