A 65-year-old man who was left unable to walk after a brain injury four years ago has set off on the toughest endurance challenge on the planet and won't be coming home for nearly a year.
David Greer was selected for the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, which is a contest over 40,000 nautical miles between 12 70ft ocean yachts in a circumnavigation of the globe.
He has now left his Mundesley home for Gosport in Hampshire, where he is helping to prepare his team's yacht for the race.
His wife Marie Greer said: 'Next Wednesday, August 9 he will help to sail his yacht from Gosport to the race start venue of Liverpool's Albert Dock
'Pre-race week starts on August 14 with lots going and the race leaves Liverpool at lunch-time on August 20. It returns to Liverpool on July 28, 2018.
'The first leg from Liverpool to Uruguay is the longest, 6,400 miles taking some 36 days.
'During the race there is no stopping, the regime can be pretty fearsome - four hours on, four hours off at night and six hours on, six hours off during the day, plus taking turns at cooking and cleaning, etc.'
Mr Greer has already raised nearly £1,500 for Headway (UK), which helped the couple following his injury.
He has already undertaken five gruelling training weeks on the Clipper boats in addition to land training sponsored by Rossis of North Walsham.
Mr Greer said he took up the challenge because he had largely recovered from his brain injury, but could not go back to work as a CEO.
On the Australian leg of the race he will be reunited with his twin brother, whom he has not seen in 15 years.
Belfast-born Mr Greer said: 'I will live out of a 20-kilo kitbag. I won't miss the creature comforts, but I will obviously miss Marie and the two dogs.'
The Clipper is made up of 14 to 16 races over eight legs. Each yacht is crewed by 20 to 22 people, and Mr Greer is part of Team PSP Logistics.
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