Sail 4 Cancers Liferaft Challenge is back!

Sail 4 Cancer’s Liferaft Challenge is back © Sail 4 Cancer

Could you spend 24 hours in a liferaft?

When visiting your local marina in October don't be surprised to see bright orange liferafts filled with enthusiastic, if somewhat frozen, people taking part in a very unusual charity challenge. After the enormous success last year sailing charity, Sail 4 Cancer, is planning to run the 24 Liferaft Challenge again between 5 and 29 October this year. The Liferaft Challenge aims to highlight the fact that almost 1000 people are diagnosed with cancer every 24 hours in the United Kingdom.

Sail 4 Cancer's Chairman and Liferaft Challenge survivor, Graham Precey, explains: "After the success of last year's Challenge, we're asking people from all over the UK to get involved again this autumn. The message is simple – come and have a go if you think you are tough enough!"

The 24hr Liferaft Challenge will again be supported by the UK's largest independent marine equipment supplier Ocean Safety who will provide the liferafts.

Graham continues: "All jokes aside, this is a difficult challenge and I can say that with conviction after taking part myself last year. But this is one challenge which is not meant to be easy – we're doing this to recognise the turmoil that a cancer diagnosis brings to so many families across the UK every day."

The 24hr Liferaft Challenge is a real test of mental and physical endurance. Unlike most other challenges it does not require a high level of physical fitness but the ability to stay on the liferaft for a whole day and night in very confined, cramped, cold and damp conditions. Many of the participants only meet on the day so it is also a test of social interaction under difficult circumstances.

In 2012 employees of companies around the South Coast took part and found it proved to be the ultimate team building exercise. One of the teams was an all-girls crew from Boatshop24 captained by Nicky Tucker. She describes her experience of taking part in the Challenge: "What started off as a bit of fun and a challenge in the office, it soon became clear after an hour or two that it wasn't going to be quite so romantic bobbing about on the sea. So a word of advice to anyone considering this challenge, it is wet, it is cold, there will be no sleep, you will be miserable for a bit but do it anyway and YOU could change someone's life for good."

All the funds raised during the Challenge will be used to provide water- based breaks like sailing days for families affected by cancer. Anybody can take part in this Challenge; all that is required is mental toughness and determination to stay on the liferaft for the whole 24 hours. Can you do it?

To register your interest for the 24hr Liferaft Challenge please call 0845 408 1849. You can also register online at www.sail4cancer.org/24hr-liferaft-challenge