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NI Teenager Sails Channel for Charity
Tiffany Brien Sails Solo from Northern Ireland to Scotland
International sailor Tiffany Brien is setting sail for Scotland in aid of
Belfast sailing charity Sailability. 17-year old Tiffany who is funded by
Sport Northern Ireland is preparing to sail solo from Belfast Lough to
Portpatrick in Scotland.
At the press launch at The Lord Mayor’s Residence in the Port of Belfast
on Friday 30 May, Tiffany outlined her aims to raise enough money to
give Sailability Northern Ireland their first Skud boat. This particular
dinghy is not only perfect for aiding disabled sailors, but is of Paralympics
standard and will help to increase Northern Ireland’s chances of having a
competitor in the 2012 Paralympics Games.
Tiffany will single-handedly sail across the Irish Sea, approximately 3
miles, in her Laser Radial, the Women’s Olympic Boat. Tiffany, who
recently finished first girl in the Irish Youth Championships, is currently
Northern Ireland Youth Champion and Northern Ireland Young Sailor of
the Year, and last summer finished 13th in the Youth World Championships
in Canada.
Even with Tiffany’s world class experience this fundraiser will be a
demanding expedition, as Tiffany explains: “A really worth while cause
deserves the best of challenges. I am really looking forward to it,
especially as I will be setting off from home, here in Northern Ireland.
To have an opportunity to raise funds for Sailability and the future NI
Paralympics team is priceless to me, especially when my personal goal is
to compete in the 2012 Olympics.”
Tiffany sets sail in June and will have the support of the Sailability team
to motivate her, Bill Foster the chairman of Belfast Lough Sailability
commented: “We were overwhelmed when Tiffany approached us with her
idea. Her dedication is more than admirable and her fundraising will be
invaluable to our charity and the disabled people who benefit from
Sailability.”
Lord Mayor Jim Rodgers commented: "This is an extremely admirable
endeavour. In these days when we hear so many negative things about
our young people, it is a real pleasure to meet someone so dedicated to
improving their skills - and also to helping improve the lives of others.
Tiffany has set herself a tremendous challenge, but I have every
confidence that she will rise to it, and that Sailability will benefit as a
result of her sterling efforts."
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