With some 500 boats and more than 4,000 sailors taking part in this year’s Cowes Week (2-8 August) the crew on board charity entry Stride Forward will be sure to stand out, both on and off the water.
Whilst the boat itself – a 32 foot Sun Fast 3200 – will be easy to spot with its eye-catching logos on the hull, sail and spinnaker, what is most outstanding is that all of the crew onboard have a variety of physical impairments and are racing together for the first time to promote the charity that has helped them overcome life-changing injuries.
Stride Forward is a national charity that offers mentoring programmes and support for people who have suffered serious physical trauma leading to disability.
It was set up by Holly King, an East Devon-based physiotherapist by profession and also a keen sailor, to help individuals adjust after life-changing injuries. Holly explains: “In the early days, there’s a clear roadmap of medical care, rehabilitation and legal support. But what happens when that structured support ends? People are then left facing emotional and practical challenges of life after serious injury with little or no help. This is where Stride Forward steps in.”
Stride Forward’s mission – Giving the Gift of the Ordinary – supports mentees to reclaim their confidence, independence and purpose in a way that feels accessible, empowering, and real. Through a structured 1:1 mentoring programme, alongside specialist career advice and financial literacy sessions, Stride Forward offers a compassionate bridge between the clinical world and everyday life.
At Cowes Week, the Sun Fast 3200 Stride Forward will be helmed by Olympian and world champion sailor Stuart Childerley, from Southampton, who is getting back on the water for the first time since suffering life-changing injuries after a road bike accident in 2021.
Stuart Childerley says: “I came across Stride Forward charity through my own personal rehabilitation. I met Holly, who did an expert report for me, and what struck me was just how determined she was to give those who have suffered life-changing injuries opportunities to feel valued, heard and be empowered to advocate for themselves whether in work or sport. Sailing is something that I’ve always done, and the chance to sail with a group of incredible people at Cowes Week on Stride Forward is very exciting. They are all remarkable, inspiring individuals – one of them, an amputee, is even learning to sail a foiling Moth and that really is amazing.”
A key member amongst the crew is Laurence Greenhough from Plymouth. At just 9 years old, a tragic capsize drill accident resulted in Laurence losing his right leg above the knee. Remarkably, he taught himself to sail and trapeze again on one leg. In 2007, through resilience and dedication, Laurence was honoured with the prestigious Raymarine Young Sailor of the Year award. But in his early 20s, he was lacking direction and was introduced to Holly and Stride Forward. He was matched with Stride Forward volunteer mentor Josie Gliddon, and began skippering with the Andy Cassell Foundation. Now working as a sailing instructor at a high-performance resort, his ambition is to race and compete on one leg in a high-speed technically-challenging foiling Moth, a goal he is steadily progressing towards with Josie’s support.
Whilst Stuart and his crew are aiming to not only enjoy the challenges of racing and attain good results in the water, the purpose of Stride Forward being at Cowes Week runs deeper. Holly hopes that sailors taking part at Cowes Week will give opportunities for those with life changing injuries to sail as part of mixed teams rather than in teams of disability in separate adapted boats and on separate courses.
As a charity, Stride Forward also relies on fundraising, corporate support and finding mentors. This year, sponsors include Cowes-based clothing store TOIO (pronounced Toy-yo), which is selling a Stride Forward range of clothing, as well as marine industry partners including Harken, Henri-Lloyd, Lewmar, North Sails, Spinlock and Grapefruit Graphics. Corporate support comes from Proactive Prosthetics, Leigh Day and Bindmans.
And in addition, Holly is keen for people to see Stride Forward in action and offer to help by becoming a mentor. She explains, “We’re working with a wide range of individuals who need support to navigate returning to work, or using their transferrable skills in new roles, leaning into new hobbies or interests, and help with vocational support and financial training. Our mentees currently range from a sheep farmer to a wedding planner, a building maintenance manager, a computer programmer and even an executive in international finance company. It really doesn’t matter what their backgrounds or interests are, we are here to enable and support them to achieve a joyful and fulfilled life.”
