AROUND 40 years ago Paul Moon raced 700 miles in a yacht from England to France.

Now he lives at St Cross Grange in Winchester with Lewy Body Dementia – whilst his son plans to follow in his footsteps.

Jonathan Moon, of Chandler’s Ford, is due to raise money for his dad’s nursing home by taking part in the Fastnet Yacht Race Challenge.

He will start the offshore event in Cowes, on the Isle of Wight, and finish in Cherbourg, just as Paul did in 1980s on a UFO 31 called ‘The Happy Return’.

Hampshire Chronicle: Jonathan Moon sailing with his dad

Jonathan sailing with his dad

“I still recall going to watch the start from the Green at Cowes, and the feeling of excitement and worry, after all this was my dad, my hero, the man who taught me how to sail, heading off into a race that two years before had taken the lives of 15 sailors,” said Jonathan.

“Fast forward 40 years, and my dad now lives in a care home in Winchester with Lewy Body Dementia – the same form that led to the death of the actor Robin Williams.

“This year marks the 40th anniversary of him taking part in the Fastnet, and I have decided I should do this race, and by doing so, help raise money for the care home my dad lives in.”

From Cowes, around 300 boats will pass the Needles, heading along the southern coast of England towards the Lizard then around the tip of Land’s End.

From there, the boats will head north through Celtic Sea waters towards the Fastnet Rock on the southern tip of Ireland.

Once around the Rock, they will head back southwards, round the Scilly Isles then south east across the English Channel towards Cherbourg.

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Jonathan added: “My dad is still my hero, and if by my following his footsteps, could possibly help raise the money the home needs to provide the equipment to help enrich his life, and those of all the residents, that is a challenge I am happy to take on.

“I will be sailing with Germaine Williams and the team at Sail Racing Academy, and they have generously offered to assist in the fundraising during this Fastnet Cycle.”

The money raised from the challenge will go towards purchasing a Tovertafel for the residents at St Cross Grange care home.

It is an £7,000 piece of equipment that was developed for people in the moderate to severe stages of dementia.

The interactive games break through apathy by stimulating both physical and cognitive activity and encouraging social interaction.

To sponsor Jonathan visit: https://gofund.me/a0602f45.

St Cross Grange provides 24 hour care and support allowing residents to feel safe again. It is part of the Greensleeves Care group.