Anchors aweigh

Stephen Gratton takes to the ocean to raise funds for PhD research at Imperial College.

Back in June 2005, Stephen Gratton successfully completed the Single Handed Transatlantic Race (OSTAR). The epic voyage involved a month of gruelling Atlantic sailing to raise sponsorship to fund a PhD research student within the Multiple Sclerosis Research group at Imperial College. Stephen's brother Nick, who has Multiple Sclerosis, was the major catalyst for Stephen's fundraising efforts.

Roberta Magliozzi has now begun her Stephen Gratton PhD studentship. Supervised by Dr Richard Reynolds, Roberta will be conducting research aimed at isolating individual grey matter MS lesions that affect some 40% of MS cases and lead to a more aggressive form of the disease. The fund currently stands at approximately GBP42,000, enough to cover the stipend and fees for the first two years of the three year research programme.

In December 2006, to ensure that the entirety of this research programme can be completed, Stephen decided to take to the oceans once more. The 628 nautical mile course of the Sydney to Hobart Race is often described as one of the toughest of its kind. "I was offered the chance to compete in the Sydney to Hobart and saw that I had another opportunity to raise some money while enjoying sailing in this great race" says Stephen.

Setting sail on Boxing Day 2006, Stephen and his crew of 12 voyaged into the Tasman Sea, down the south coast of mainland Australia, across the Bass Strait and then down the east coast of Tasmania. On 30 December 2006, after 3 days, 23 hours and 28 minutes at sea, Stephen and his crew arrived at the historic city port of Hobart at 12.32 local time.

To find out more about Stephen's second heroic adventure, visit www.ms50000.com.