Jodie’s Great Adventure and Raising Awareness and Funds for Research on ADEM, NMO, ON and TM

Jodie Douglas will be sailing three legs of a round-the-world yacht race. Jodie will join the boats on New Year ’s Day 2010 from Western Australia and race up to Singapore, then on to China; from Qingdao China across the Pacific to California and the Caribbean via the Panama Canal.  She will be at sea for up to 35 days at a time and away for five months.  The Clipper Round-the-World Race is sailed by ten identical 68 foot yachts, crewed by experienced and inexperienced people of all ages.

Jodie has just returned from a week’s training on a 60 foot yacht, which she said, “…was incredibly hard work but fantastic fun.  The skipper knew all about my medical history and at the end of the week, said he had no problems passing me.”  Jodie is committed to spending the time between now and the race in January working on her fitness and stamina.  She acknowledged the hard work ahead but believes that she has established a terrific goal for herself. 

“I am going to be setting up a website for people to follow my progress and to sponsor me.  I hope to get lots of coverage for the TMA and the UK TM Society awareness and to raise as much money as I can for ADEM, NMO, ON and TM Research.”

www.jodiedouglas.com

For additional information about Jodie’s great adventure, please go to the clipper yacht race website. 

http://www.clipperroundtheworld.com/index.php/home 

Jodie got ADEM in June 2006. ADEM is a neuroimmunologic disorder characterized by inflammation of the brain and spinal cord.  Jodie was paralysed from the T6 level and was unable to walk.  She spent three months at Charring Cross receiving treatment and physiotherapy and eventually regained the ability to walk. 

Many of us had the opportunity to meet Jodie in Seattle at the last Rare Neuroimmunologic Disorder Symposium.  We all enjoyed her beautiful smile and her wonderful sense of humor.  We are grateful for Jodie’s willingness to turn her great adventure into an awareness and fundraising opportunity for our community.  We urge all of you to provide Jodie with your support, encouragement and to get involved in her generous effort.  We are looking forward to hearing back from Jodie about the race.  Be safe, Jodie, and have a great time!