Point Lonsdale disability advocate Katie Alexander has achieved an important personal goal, by completing her first-ever Melbourne to Geelong Passage Race in January.
The 59-year-old, who lives with a rare muscle wasting disease, competed onboard the 52-foot ex-Sydney to Hobart yacht ‘Wot Eva,’ after enduring 18 months of intensive physiotherapy to prepare for the event.
"I've never been a sporty person, but when I was first introduced to sailing it just grabbed me," she told Sail World magazine.
"Given my physical limitations with deteriorating muscle strength and numbness in my hands and legs, I just feel an enormous sense of freedom and peace when I'm out there on the water. It has truly been life changing!"
The race was held over the Australia Day long weekend, as part of Royal Geelong Yacht Club’s Festival of Sails.
Katie is a founding member of the Making Waves Foundation, which introduces children and young people living with disability to experience sailing. She is also a national Ambassador for Rare Voices Australia - Australia’s peak disability advocacy group.
“I now know first-hand how sailing and the teamwork that underpins being part of a crew can help people like me focus on what's possible, and the thrill of being able to achieve something that might have previously seemed impossible." she said.”
Read the full Sail World Magazine story here.
The 59-year-old, who lives with a rare muscle wasting disease, competed onboard the 52-foot ex-Sydney to Hobart yacht ‘Wot Eva,’ after enduring 18 months of intensive physiotherapy to prepare for the event.
"I've never been a sporty person, but when I was first introduced to sailing it just grabbed me," she told Sail World magazine.
"Given my physical limitations with deteriorating muscle strength and numbness in my hands and legs, I just feel an enormous sense of freedom and peace when I'm out there on the water. It has truly been life changing!"
The race was held over the Australia Day long weekend, as part of Royal Geelong Yacht Club’s Festival of Sails.
Katie is a founding member of the Making Waves Foundation, which introduces children and young people living with disability to experience sailing. She is also a national Ambassador for Rare Voices Australia - Australia’s peak disability advocacy group.
“I now know first-hand how sailing and the teamwork that underpins being part of a crew can help people like me focus on what's possible, and the thrill of being able to achieve something that might have previously seemed impossible." she said.”
Read the full Sail World Magazine story here.
