Deafness Research UK has now merged with Action on Hearing Loss. This is a great step for both charities. Please continue to donate to this page and funds will find their way to the right people...people dedicated on the research and cure of hearing loss items.

After being born and diagnosed with deafness in my right ear, I never really gave the disability much thought apart from the obvious annoyances of having to walk on the right, sit on the right, do everything with anyone – on the right.

It was only when I was unable to complete a solo flight scholarship due to my deafness with Air Cadets, that I realised I would not be allowed to join the RAF as a pilot. I then understood the limitations that the disability brought to my life.

Following this, I took the mentality that I may be limited, but I can do mostly anything. Mostly anything turned into chasing another career path to become a Test Driver. After working in this field for a number of years, I’ve decided to take a career break to take on something truly special – A Round the World Yacht Race.

The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is a 40,000 mile circumnavigation of the globe. The longest yacht race in the world. 12 identical 70ft racing yachts, with a crew of 22 on board will race 8 legs with 15 stopovers over 6 continents and will last 11 months.

 

This challenge for me, is one to truly test my ability to work around my deafness in an environment where hearing or not hearing your crew mates can be the difference between winning or losing, or what is a real possibility, the difference between a serious injury or not.

 

I've set up an affiliation with Deafness Research UK, as I believe their charity best supports the research of hearing loss and the development of cures for the future. There work in youth groups' appeals to me as the children are our future, and we must help them as we would like to have been helped. 

 

I've suffered in my life with my disability; therefore anything I can do to help others in the same situation will help benefit their lives, as I would wish my life to be benefitted. 

 

The overall message I'm trying to send out, is no matter what you restriction in life, you can do anything you want. You just need to go and do it. Please help my race campaign and donate to this great charity.

 

Ben

 

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