A MAN who until recently was unable to walk due to a life-changing spinal injury will today sail around the UK by himself.
Ian Wyllie at times uses a wheelchair and walks with “heavy duty leg braces”.
He was injured while serving in the Royal Navy as an engineer 25-years-ago.
The 43-year-old from Highfield, Southampton, suffered further health complications and spent seven years at Dolphin Care in Rownhams.
But now - he is now set to embark on a solo voyage around the UK and Ireland.
He started sailing with the help of the Andrew Cassell Foundation two years ago when he could “barely stand without assistance”.
Ian said: “Even though my health was stabilising with the expert help of the team at Dolphin Care in Rownhams, I couldn’t work out how to get myself to a level where I was back living more independently.
“It’s been a massive struggle, and I can’t thank the Andrew Cassell Foundation enough. Their contribution and guidance of my hard work have been invaluable.”
Ian is set to embark in his boat, Trilleen, a Vancouver 27, from the Solent today and then head towards Lands End before heading on to the south west tip of Ireland.
He plans to arrive in Glasgow by the end of October where he will pause his journey for the winter months before resuming in the spring of next year.
During the sail, he will be stopping in as many places as possible to talk about how the work of the charity has impacted him.
He hopes to spread the cause of the foundation as well as to raise at least £15,000.
The foundation enables individuals with disabilities and impairments to race competitively in sailing on a level playing field with and against able-bodied sailors.
For more information, visit www.acfsailing.org and sailingtrilleen.org.
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