My Story

Why I'm Running

My cousin Laury was a loving, kind, and brilliant human being. He loved to sail. Since his death in 2020 my aunt Solen has been working hard to continue his legacy through Blue Spirit - a charity which provides sailing experiences to people across the UK who might not otherwise have had the opportunity.

Two years after his death, Solen got the family together and we sailed (with an experienced skipper) across the channel to where Laury grew up and where he learned to sail, Port Blanc. Doing this brought us close, and gave us space to speak about his tragic death together. I will not forget the experiences of seeing nothing but sea all around, trying to cook chilli sin carne on a wildly rocking boat anchored below the cliffs of Guernsey, my sister's heroic navigation efforts on the dark approach into Cherbourg, and watching dolphins leap around our boat in Brittany. 

Knowing what this mad adventure brought us, I want Blue Spirit to keep bringing these experiences to more and more people. Here is how you can help make that happen!

Please consider donating whatever amount you are able to, to help further this brilliant cause. 

(read more below this cute video of Laury sailing by Port Blanc) 

More About Blue Spirit

Blue Spirit aims to boost mental health and help prevent suicidal ideation in young people, primarily by providing sailing experiences to youngsters who are experiencing a mental health challenge or social / economic disadvantage. 

We work in partnership with experienced sail training organisations, through whom we can offer anything from dinghy sailing and courses to residential voyages. 

We establish relationships with organisations working with young people from marginalised backgrounds. They are well-placed to identify those who would normally find it difficult to access this kind of activity, or who do not have other mental health support, e.g. young refugees / asylum-seekers who face cultural and linguistic challenges, as well as often having experienced trauma, or young people from other communities such as young carers or those from areas characterised by socio-economic deprivation particularly in Newcastle & Gateshead. 

Blue Spirit makes the experience affordable while helping groups discover an opportunity which would otherwise be out of their reach. We help those who are most likely to benefit from sailing, who are those least likely to be able to afford it. Research carried out by the National Centre for Social Research states that “people living in low-income households were far more likely to have been diagnosed with mental illness than those in high income households.”   

Research has shown that being in ‘blue spaces’ can enhance wellbeing and reduce stress. Sailing helps develop essential life skills such as communication and teamwork. A sailing voyage takes people away from their usual surroundings and out of their ‘comfort zone’ and puts them into an alien environment where they must accept authority, live and work together.  It is a chance to escape their daily reality, giving themselves and their caregivers a break, and try something fun and new. 

Since August 2021, we have given around 160 young people from some of the most disadvantaged communities life-enhancing & sometimes life-changing experiences. Please help us continue our work and widen our reach!