After what must definitely be the most memorable year of her life so far, round-the-world yachtswoman Dee Caffari is swapping her deck shoes for a pair of trainers in preparation for the 2007 London Marathon, in a bid to help improve the quality of life for people living with cancer. Although she admits that running “was severely lacking from my physical preparation for previous sailing races,” if she shows just a fraction of the grit and determination she puts into her sailing exploits, she’ll be a runner to reckon with!

Dee sailed into the record books in May 2006, as the first female to make a solo circumnavigation of the globe against the prevailing winds and currents. Since then, in amongst a whirlwind of public appearances, she has competed in the Mark Webber Pure Tasmania Challenge and been awarded BBC South’s Yachtsman of the Year Award in December, plus the YJA/Raymarine Yachtsman of the Year Award in January. She also became patron for cancer charity Sail 4 Cancer and it is on their behalf that she will be running the London Marathon.

Now focusing on her next challenge, to be the first woman to sail solo non-stop around the world in both directions, the London Marathon is part of Dee’s rigorous training schedule, which also includes events such as the 2007 Rolex Fastnet and the 2008 Transat. Having been fully prepared to compete with racing’s elite, Dee will make her record attempt whilst participating in one of sailing’s most challenging races, the 2008/9 Vendée Globe.

To sponsor Dee and to learn more about Sail 4 Cancer go to www.sail4cancer.org or call 0845 408 1849.