TEN people who attend the Echo Centre, the the Cornwall county council run day centre for adults with physical disabilities in Liskeard, are preparing for the adventure of a lifetime working as crew members on the world renowned tall ship The Lord Nelson.

The group, all of whom have physical disabilities, will work alongside able- bodied people on the specially designed tall ship owned by the Jubilee Sailing Trust on two voyages due to take place in May and June.

Each will be accompanied on the trip by a special "buddy", who will provide practical help and support and encourage them to take part in all the activities. All of the buddies, some of whom work for the County Council, are volunteers who are making the trip in their own time and at their own expense.

All members of the crew, both able bodied and physically disabled, play a full part in sailing the ship. This includes sleeping in bunks, cleaning the ship, helping with preparing and serving meals and taking part in four hour long watches when they are responsible for maintaining the ship's course, changing sail settings if necessary and maintaining a lookout. They are also given the chance to climb the ship's 33 high mast.!!!

Two of the Echo Centre group will join The Lord Nelson on May 18 for a seven day trip to Plymouth, while the remaining eight will sail from Plymouth to Dublin from May 25 to June 1.

The ten people from the Echo Centre are : Chris Sissons who has sailed before) , Jo Davies a new sailor, Roland Crow (sailed before) , Silvia Jarvis, (new sailor) , Charlotte West ( new sailor), Andrew Gallichan (new sailor) ; Geoff Robson (new sailor), Rob Jennings, (sailed before), Terry Whitty ( new sailor) and Mike Mecoy (new sailor) .

Terry Whitty , who has never been on a tall ship before, says he is really looking forward to sailing on The Lord Nelson. "This is something I have wanted to do all my life," he said. "Having served 27 years in the Navy sailing on a tall ship will be a totally new experience for me."

Andrew Gallichan says he is looking forward to challenging himself on his voyage, while Rob Jennings, who has sailed on The Lord Nelson before, says he is looking forward to a "great interactive time." Charlotte West, another new sailor, is also looking forward to the experience but says she is rather nervous.

They will be joined by buddies': Bill Mowbray, the treasurer for the Echo Centre charity; Gina O'Keefe, an occupational therapist from Bodmin Hospital; Noreen Brosman, a social worker; Maggie Russell, a social worker, Karen Lang, an OT technician from Launceston, Nicki White, an OT with the Department of Adult Social Care; Mandy Blight, a home care manager with the Department of Adult Social Care; Liam Slade, a trainee teacher; Emma Helliwell, a social worker and Louise Gunning, an OT with the NHS.

3:12pm Sunday 27th April 2008

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