Justine’s first blog descibes her preparation to cross the Atlantic as crew of the Clipper round the world race. Check back in a few weeks to find out how she found her Atlantic crossing experience…

“Welcome to my world, one of fun and adventure – living and
breathing. Why am I different from most? Well, I have had a double-lung
transplant and know that every day I wake up breathing, really IS amazing to be
alive! I have had a very rocky journey with ill health starting in my early
20’s with two right lung collapses and lung surgery. Then enduring ten years of
immense pain on/off inside my chest until my left lung collapsed within this
period. Never mind people talking about having whirlwind romances – mine was a
whirlwind rapid decline of health. My left lung collapsed a further 13 times
and my right lung no longer functioned. I was diagnosed with the world’s rarest
lung disease called, Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (Lam). I spent 3 weeks in a coma,
and more time after awake on a life support machine, I call this my ‘dark
phase’.  In this period, I also
needed to learn to how to walk again.

Since my transplant in 2006, I have set personal goals/challenges
to achieve every year I’m still living. I have been travelling on my
own to five countries visiting 14 cities in two months; competing in the Bupa Great
South Run 10 miles; learning new sports; and competing in British, European and
World Transplant Games. I have learnt sprinting, long jump, archery, badminton,
squash, volleyball, shot putt, discus and javelin.

Clipper 11-12 is by far
the biggest goal I am taking on as a complete novice. It fills me with fear, excitement and I know there will be
lows amongst the highs. It will test me both mentally and physically and I
am going to give my 100% to the challenge.

The training has been a rollercoaster of fun, great social,
tiredness, and physically demanding on my body. Sometimes I still get
breathless and have found some of the work a struggle but my determination and
attitude keeps me strong. I have experienced sea sickness on my last level in a
very bad way – whereby I was unwell for a few days and unable to move, eat, and
felt so weak – confined to a bunk. I was actually quite frightened and thought
maybe I wouldn’t be able to do this. But, know once you have turned the corner, you CAN get back up again. Eating a lump of cheese at 4am made me realise
my appetite had come back! I have since tried patches you wear behind the ears (to
assist sea sickness) on a refresher course and so far they seem the best option
for me. Also I said to myself, if I can get through 15 lung collapses and a three-week coma, then I can get through a few days being sea sick/feeling unwell at
sea.

I tried to even out my training levels, to get a good
recovery in-between each one. Some theory courses were needed on navigation,
sea rules, weather, identifying buoys/lights and so on. It was almost like being back
at school and having to revise or do homework in the evenings. For me it was like
learning a new language; trying to plot routes on charts was sometimes awkward
as my medications give me the shakes (so my bearings could be a tad out). I combined the
last two levels to get a feel for a longer duration onboard. The sleep deprivation was probably the
hardest on my body; it was almost like not being able to function. However, I wasn’t
the only person who felt this and it’s a challenge for even the fittest person. But,
you work as a team and help each other and give support…… and the conversations
when sleep deprived maybe too x-rated to print. I guess, our minds went a little
lala and we spoke freely.

My parents liked sailing when I was a child, but
I had no desire and didn’t enjoy or want to get involved – I would rather file
my nails. So, it’s quite bizarre as now I relish all and everything since my
new lease of life. I know it’s just an extension and not forever, so I am
grabbing at life and have done so much that prior would have seen me working
crazy hours, earning money with no life. Now, I am experiencing as much as I
can before my time ceases.

I was working part-time for my Dad when the
Clipper 11-12 came about and he was very understanding and flexible with my
training dates. However, when I first told my parents about wanting to join
the race, my Mum was horrified and my Dad thought I would never be able to
achieve this as it would be too much on my body/health. As time passed, and
constantly talking it through with Dad, and with
his knowledge and understanding of sailing and the oceans, he advised me what leg(s) if any I
should do – and the ones to definitely avoid. My Mum eventually came round and
both became proud of what I wanted to achieve.

The idea was founded by
Professor Stephen Wigmore, Clinical Director General Surgery and
Transplantation (Edinburgh) who wanted to get a team of Transplant Ambassadors
to each do a leg of the Clipper 11-12 Race to raise awareness of Organ Donation
across the globe. There are 10 Transplant Ambassadors in total consisting of
another three transplantees (kidneys), doctors, nurses, and a transplant
co-ordinator.

I am the first double-lung transplantee in the world to be involved in sailing a round the world race. I hope by doing this race
I will give hope and inspiration to others facing personal health challenges as
well as encouraging people to become Organ Donors. Obviously, this will be a
very personal goal for me and one I’m sure will bring many tears especially
when returning to the UK and seeing my parents again. I will be crossing the
Irish Sea when I will be six years post-transplant (July 9^th), and
I will be very emotional thinking of my donor at this time.

All I know is when I set sail for the first part of the race
from New York to Nova Scotia and I step onboard, I am going to inhale a very
deep breath, exhale and smile.

Leg 8: New York – Nova Scotia – Ireland – Europe – UK
Justine will be racing in Leg 8 of the Clipper race, known as the ‘homeward bound’ leg. Made up of 4 individual races, the first takes you north from New York to Nova Scotia port in Canada.

Secondly the yachts compete in the great Atlantic dash. The route has a waypoint to avoid
any risk from ice and will takes the fleet close to the Flemish Cap, a fishing
ground made famous in the book and film, The Perfect Storm. From there it is a 2,000-mile race back towards Europe lasting around 2 weeks.

From Ireland, the fleet race over
the Irish Sea to finish at a port located in Northern Europe. For
the final race, it’s a 24 hour sprint back to the UK and a celebratory welcome. After 11 months at sea, the yachts return to find out who will be crowned the winner of Clipper 11-12 Round the World Yacht Race.

To find out more visit Clipper Round the World