Community Hearts Awards – Vote Kylie Forth

by Kelly Scott on 19 Apr 2010 I'm sure many of you have met the very inspirational Ms Kylie Forth. A regular sailor at the Royal Perth Yacht Club (RPYC), Kylie is also an active member of Sailability.

For those of you, who have yet to have the pleasure of meeting Kylie, let me tell you a little about her.

Kylie is a 23-year-old, totally blind and above knee amputee. In 2008, Kylie joined the Australian Blind Sailing Team and took on the challenge of learning to skipper - in three months - to participate in the International Homerous Blind Sailing Championships. Kylie and her crewman Ryan placed a credible fourth at these championships.

Kylie has a new sailing partner in Erin McGlew. Erin has joined the Australian Sailing team and now faces the challenge of learning to sail, in three months with less than two percent eyesight.

Their current goal is to participate in June at the 2010 International Homerous Blind Sailing Championships, which is being held in Italy. As with any international Sailing event, funding is always difficult.

Kylie and Erin have entered the 'That's Life' Magazine Community Hearts Award, have made it through to the finals and have been awarded $1000.

To win the full award of $10,000, they need your help as it is based on voting.

In Kylie’s own words:

'We have entered the blind sailing team into the ‘That’s Life Magazine’ Community Hearts Awards. This award gives a community organisation $10,000 to fund its projects.”

“If we win the prize, we will use it to fund part of our trip to the upcoming World Blind Match-Racing championships in Italy in June, start a proper Blind Sailing program, and buy another set of audible buoys to increase training opportunities for other sailors with vision impairments.”

“The winner is determined by reader votes, so, we would really appreciate your votes, and by taking part, you go into the draw to win $1,000 from That’s Life!”

To vote:

Fill out an entry form, which can be found in the next two weeks issues of That’s Life Magazine.

Call 1900 99 55 08

SMS '08' + Your Name to 19 74 42 02 (costs 55C)

Follow this link to vote online: www.thatslife.com.au/CommunityHearts/view.finalist.asp?finalistID=2136

“Or you can do it all! “Thank you so much for your help, and good luck for the $1000 prize.'

Let's get behind our very own RPYC member and help her win!