Efforts to raise funds on land and sea (From Stroud News and Journal)

Efforts to raise funds on land and sea

AS Cranham's amateur yachtsman Richard 'Artie' Tuckwell battles his way across the Southern Ocean in the Global Challenge, fund racing for his breast cancer appeal for the Gloucester Royal Hospital continues on land.

On Saturday, Roger Smith, 50, also from Cranham organised a fund raising walk with a nautical feel when a group of 22 set off for a 16-mile hike along the Sharpness Canal from Sharpness to Hempstead near Gloucester Docks.

The walk raised more than £950 towards the Artie's Breast Cancer Appeal which aims to raise £10,000 before the end of the year. All the cash raised will go towards new diagnostic equipment at the hospital.

As the walkers enjoyed glorious spring conditions Richard was approaching the half way point of his epic 40-day plus trip from Sydney to Cape Town through over 6,000 miles of the Southern Ocean, famous for roughest seas on the planet.

Already Richard who is part of the foredeck crew has seen a fellow crew member washed over the side by a giant wave. He was pulled back aboard by his safety line after his terrifying ordeal.

The crew on all the yachts in the fleet have also been battered by rough weather with one crew member on the yacht Save the Children breaking his hip after the yacht was hit by a freak wave.

Richard's 72 yacht, Team SAIC La Jolla, was lying in 7th position out of a fleet of twelve yachts as the walkers set off from Sharpness. Over the remaining 2,999 miles there is everything to race for as they are only 54 miles behind the leaders.

In his last log filed on March, 14 on the internet Richard reported: "Some bloke once wrote 'it's only wind and water'. "Well I wish he'd described how cold it is.

"I am beginning to understand what ocean racing is all about." After Richard leaves the yacht in Cape Town the race continues via Boston and La Rochelle finishing in Portsmouth on Sunday, July 17.

Global Challenge, The World's Toughest Yacht Race which takes place every four years is organised by Gloucestershire-based veteran yachtsman, Sir Chay Blyth as a way of enabling ordinary men and women to do something extraordinary.