There is a history of epilepsy in Simon Papendick’s family, but the sufferers all try to live as normal a life as possible. Simon is just about to embark on a new challenge and explains:
“The reason behind doing this sailing challenge is to highlight that having epilepsy does not stop you from living a full and active life and take part in sports and other active pursuits. That just because you are diagnosed with epilepsy should not make you feel your life is over , it is NOT !!! This is why my wife is taking part in this Sailing Challenge to highlight this point and to show what can be done when you put your mind to it.”
The course of the up and coming Three Port Sailing Challenge will take Simon, a very experienced Yacht Skipper of 30 year sailing under his belt or should I say under his sea boots and Tricia, his wife who has had Epilepsy since childhood, from Fox’s Marina in Ipswich in Suffolk England to Ostend in Belgium, then to Den Helder Holland and to return to Fox’s Marina in Ipswich. When the sailing challenge as finished the boat will be used to promote that living with epilepsy does not stop anyone from living a full and active lives. Any money raised from the event will be used by the local Epilepsy Action group to continue their work helping people with epilepsy in the Tendring area of Essex.
Simon and Tricia will be setting off between mid-May and the end of June depending on the weather and the voyage should take about a week. If you would like to support them with this fundraising challenge, please go to www.justgiving.com/threeportsailingchallange