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Rotarian ‘Walks on Water’

Rotarian ‘Walks on Water’

A Rotarian who last year became the first disabled person to sail 1,500 miles single-handed around Great Britain has released abook recounting his inspirational journey. Geoff Holt was an 18 year old professional yachtsman when on September 5 1984 he dived into a tropical sea and hit his head on the sand, breaking his neck. […]

A Rotarian who last year became the first disabled person to sail 1,500 miles single-handed around Great Britain has released abook recounting his inspirational journey.

Geoff Holt was an 18 year old professional yachtsman when on September 5 1984 he dived into a tropical sea and hit his head on the sand, breaking his neck. He was left completely paralysed from the chest down and facing the rest of his life in a wheelchair.

Twenty-three years later to the day, on 5 September 2007, Geoff crossed the finishing line of what he had called his Personal Everest, as told in his new autobiography Walking on Water, published by Seafarer Books.

Geoff, 42 from Shedfield, Hampshire, who exhibited his projectat the Bournemouth Conference last year a month before he set off, was supported in his sail by more than 30 Rotary clubs and manyhundreds of Rotarians during his record-breaking 109 day expedition.

Geoff joined the Rotary Club of Hamble Valley on his return andwas recognised with a Paul Harris Fellow last year.

Geoff also helped to found the national charity RYA (Royal Yachting Association) Sailability project which providesopportunities for thousands of disabled sailors each year and is heavily supported by Rotary clubs through the Rotary/Sailability Collaboration Project.

Geoff said: "It is no overstatement to say that the entireevent was made possible by Rotary’s involvement. Hundreds of Rotarians around the country enabled me to fulfill a personal ambition which, in turn, was to inspire many hundreds, if not thousands of people, disabled and able-bodied alike around the country.

"I had been considering writing a book for some time but thought I was too young to write an autobiography. However, when I finished my sail around the UK last year and became not only the first quadriplegic to complete the voyage sailing solo, but also the first disabled person to do so, I felt such a magnificent sense of achievement that I thought it should be documented – simply because so many people had followed my story in the sailing press and on my website.

"I have put my heart and soul into all 360 pages of thebook, and it’s like a jewel, a piece of me. It feels really precious. My biggest wish is that it will be read by anyone and everyone, not just those interested in sailing – because I want to show what is possible if you apply yourself to fulfilling your dream."

The autobiography maps out Geoff’s life so far, from his complicated childhood to the accident that changed his life and the years that followed including his marriage to Elaine the nurse that looked after him, the birth of his son Timothy (now five), his successful business career and his ongoing charity work.

Walking on Water can be ordered online at www.walkingonwater.info or from all leading bookshops, priced £9.95.

The Rotary/Sailiability Collaboration Project enables Rotary clubs across Great Britain and Ireland to support their local RYA Sailability groups, making it possible for disabled people to take up sailing and increase confidence and self esteem. For more information contact Mike Gallon at mikegallonoundle@aol.com.

 

12/09/08

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