In June 2012 I am competing in the famous Two-handed Transatlantic Yacht Race (that means only two of us on the boat!) from Plymouth, on the south coast of England, to Newport, Rhode Island, on the north-east coast of the USA, to raise money for the Global Alliance for Rabies Control as part of their World Rabies Day campaign.  My co-skipper, Richard Palmer and I will race his 35-foot/11 metre yacht, “Jangada Too”, across the Atlantic Ocean.  We will follow the Great Circle route, far to the north, with storms and icebergs a constant challenge. 

Every ten minutes, somewhere in the world, a family loses a child to rabies, which still kills over 55,000 people a year. Parents stand and watch helplessly as their child dies an indescribable death, terrified and always conscious of what is happening to them.  It is most often children who are affected, because they are small and oblivious to the odd behaviour exhibited by rabid dogs.  Often the only approach to control from governments is the mass, inhumane culling of stray dog populations, which has little effect in control.

Yet rabies is 100% preventable. Had the parents had access to treatment after the dog bite, their child would have survived. Had the dog been vaccinated, the child would not have been infected. This is why the message of the Global Alliance for Rabies Control to educate and vaccinate is so important.

In my work for the UK Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, I work as a specialist in exotic viral diseases, and I encounter endless tragic tales of the suffering caused by this easily preventable disease. 

The Global Alliance for Rabies Control is working with scientists, veterinarians, governments and health workers to sponsor projects like the one in the Philippines, where children themselves help to educate the community about the importance of vaccinating their dogs and seeking treatment after bites. They are close to making their island rabies-free, and providing a model for tens of thousands of other communities throughout the world.

Every year, thousands of people in more than 100 countries take part in World Rabies Day. Take a look at this video to see some of the other events.

It will take us about 22 days to sail to the US for World Rabies Day.  It is a serious race and a real challenge.  I want to make everyone aware of just how devastating a problem rabies is throughout the world and how easily we can resolve it if we have the resources.  And if you want to follow my progress in the race, check out the "tracking" link on the race website and our blog at http://jangada-too.blogspot.com/.  Send me a message!

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send all your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity. 

Just to be clear – I’m not looking for any form of sponsorship – every penny you give will go directly to the charity.

So please dig deep and donate to the now to help to make rabies history.

Many thanks,

Trevor