Tropic 4 Cancer has been named the official charitable partner of the Sandbanks Boat Show, now in its third year.

If you are visiting the show next month on 11-12 May it would be very easy to walk past a diminutive 21ft racing boat sitting on the pontoon where the show is to be held at Salterns Marina.

However, for this yacht a huge task lies ahead, starting in August when she leaves Poole, to sail south to Gibraltar, where Richard Mayon-White, who is both her skipper and crew, will follow the Tropic of Cancer, single handed, to arrive in the Bahamas some 4000 miles later.

At the Sandbanks Boat Show, dubbed a ‘boutique show’ Richard and his supporters will be raising awareness of the Tropic 4 Cancer cause. Richard has already rowed across the Atlantic with his wife Elizabeth, and cycled many thousands of miles in aid of charity. But his next adventure is set to be even more ambitious.

The goal of the campaign, which is called Tropic 4 Cancer due to the route that Richard will take, is to raise £40,000 to be split equally between two great causes, Sobell House Hospice in Oxford and the national charity Sail 4 Cancer, which gives respite to cancer sufferers and their families through days out on the water and sailing holidays.

Richard commented, “Visitors to the show can find out more about the work of Sobell House Hospice and Sail 4 Cancer. They will also be able to see the yacht on the pontoon, which is a Mini Transat.” Tropic 4 Cancer will also have a booth at the show.

All being well, Richard should be leaving Gibraltar at the end of October when he will sail south, following the western coastline of Morocco and the Western Sahara, until reaching the Tropic of Cancer which he will follow  for 3000 miles until reaching the Bahamas.

Part of the funds raised by Tropic 4 Cancer will fund a pilot study at Sobell House Hospice for an education programme for lay carers to learn the practical skills they need to look after patients with palliative care needs in their home.  For more information visit www.tropic4cancer.com.

The show itself will feature a selection of new boats and marina products for the boating enthusiast, which is suitable for all ages and is free of charge to visit.

Donations can be made at http://www.sail4cancer.org/Tropic4Cancer.

For more information about the Sandbanks Boat Show visit http://www.sandbanksboatshow.co.uk/ or http://www.salterns.co.uk/.