The Channel Challenge is Hilary Lister's attempt to become the first quadriplegic to sail, single-handed, across the English Channel.
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Hilary started sailing in 2003, and was immediately hooked. In 2004 she began to dream of crossing the English Channel single-handed and, at the end of August, she proposes to do just that.
Hilary has a progressive disorder which has left her only able to move her head. She spends all the time when she is not sailing either in a wheelchair, or in bed.
Until Hilary was introduced to sailing by a neighbour, she was completely housebound. Hilary had been extremely active all her life. As a paraplegic she swam and worked out in the gym several times a week. Having lost the use of her arms she could no longer drive, or continue her work as a biochemist. Her new lifestyle as a quadriplegic seemed to be worthless.
When she says "sailing saved my life", she means it.
