David Harper of hotel consultancy, Leisure Property Services, is a man on a mission. His employers have granted him a sabbatical to take part in the Clipper Round the World Race to raise money for Cancer Research, early next year. David's targeting raising a £10k donation.
David is a sailing novice, so the 5000-mile Australia to China leg he is participating in is a pretty daunting prospect - especially as it will encompass a range of conditions, from tropical heat to artic cold.
The extent of his challenge was brough home to David, when he discovered that one of his fellow trainees is Nick Ward, the author of Left for Dead, a book about his exeprience of being the last person rescued from the sea in the 1979 Fastnet race disaster.
Any pledges would be gratefully received by David.