Parkinson's Disease sufferer races around Isle of Wight

By Catherine Varney
Published Date: 05 June 2007
Location: Biggleswade
http://www.bedfordtoday.co.uk/ViewAr...icleid=2928234

The amateur sailor is now back on dry land after he braved rocky waters

A PARKINSON'S disease sufferer who braved the rocky waters in a race around the Isle of Wight is back on dry land.

Russell McMillan of Hitchin Road in Shefford who was diagnosed with the disease three years ago set sail from Cowes to brave the Solent to raise money for the Parkinson's Disease Society

The amateur sailor who also took part in the event last year spent three days at the event, one day learning how to crew the 37-foot yacht and then two days racing out at sea.

Russell, 45 said: "I never let my illness get me down. It's important to keep myself active, which is why I did this event.

"It was a challenging race, but our crew was terrific and we really enjoyed it.

"I'm really proud to have raised over £400 to go towards essential research into finding a cure for the condition."

12 crews, including seven people with Parkinson's and 30 people who had never set foot on a boat before, signed up for this year's challenge and were welcomed back into Cowes after two days of Sailing by the Wight Diamonds Marching Band.

Sadly, Dream Chaser missed out on the Boehringer Ingleheim Trophy to the victorious crew of Toucan Tango.

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16 crews go Around the Isle of Wight race for Parkinson’s

Event Date: 7 May 2006
Author: Jacqui White
http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/new...?article=21398

On Sunday 7th May ninety-two sailors set off from Cowes in a race to circumnavigate the Isle of Wight, to raise funds for the Parkinson’s Disease Society. The charity’s second annual ‘Sail the Island Adventure’ was the biggest yet with 16 crews taking part.

The Boehringer Ingleheim Trophy was awarded to the victorious crew of the Aqua Vitae, who sailed back into Cowes trumpeted by the Shanklin Town Brass Band. Skippered by Finlay Munro of Spirit Sailing, the Aqua Vitae was crewed by four employees of Teva Pharmaceuticals, a pharmaceutical company that develops drugs used in the treatment of Parkinson’s.

The 16 crews, which included five people with Parkinson’s and 30 people who had never set foot on a boat before, had only the day before the race to learn how to sail a 40-foot yacht. Embarking upon their challenge from Haslar Marina in Gosport, the participants spent Saturday 6th May sailing over to Cowes to hone their seafaring skills.

The Sail the Island Adventure is a fundraising challenge in support of the Parkinson’s Disease Society and aims to raise £45,000 for people with Parkinson’s across the UK. Partners for the event were Spirit Sailing – a Royal Yachting Association accredited sailing school based in the Solent.

Hugo Middlemas, Director of Fundraising at the Parkinson’s Disease Society said: “Sail the Island is an exhilarating event for absolute beginners and sea-legged sailors alike. Last year, 36 people took part in the inaugural Sail the Island Adventure. This year’s event was so much bigger, bringing together people wanting to make a difference for people with Parkinson’s by raising money to fund specialist nurses, information resources such as the Helpline and essential research.”