PHYSIOTHERAPIST Elaine Kirton has set herself a gruelling challenge that has even impressed some of her tough army patients.

She will face mountainous seas, icy winds and seasickness later this year when she takes part in a 35,000-mile round the world yacht race.

As well as becoming one of the select few amateur sailors to circumnavigate the world she wants to raise money to provide rehabilitation for disabled children.

Elaine, 40, who treats soldiers at Buckley Barracks and South Cerney, has wanted to sail round the world ever since she saw the BT Global Challenge yachts come home to a rapturous welcome back in 1996.

But she said: "It was a pie in the sky ambition and I never thought I would be able to achieve it."

Now she has won a berth on a yacht in the Clipper 09/10 race that will take her from Hull, to France, Rio, South Africa, Australia, Singapore, China, the Panama Canal, the Caribbean, New York, Nova Scotia and Ireland before returning home in July next year.

She has already raised £30,000 to secure her berth but is aiming for as much sponsorship as she can because the race charity is the Philip Green Memorial Trust. It builds schools and rehabilitation facilities in the UK and abroad.

One of its projects is a centre in Nepal, home of the Gurkhas.

They and their colleagues at Hullavington and South Cerney have already given their backing.

"I have had a fantastic response," she said. "The sergeants and officers of the regiments have fully supported me. Some of them think it’s awesome, some of them think I’m totally mad."

Elaine, who lives in Tetbury, got into sailing as a youngster and was hooked after talking her way into a berth on a yacht during Cowes Week.

Training for the race, which sets sail on September 13, has already started and will cover everything from sea survival and radio operation to baking bread.

"It is the only race that is open to non-professional sailors," she explained. "We all get the same amount of training before the race and you become professional during the race.

" But I don’t think anything can actually prepare you for some of the sea conditions that we are going to come across."

An added challenge will be the fact that her brother Paul will be taking part in the China to San Francisco leg.

"We get on really well, but I’m a bit more competitive than he is. Mum and Dad are a bit quiet about it, but they know me quite well. If I have an idea in my head I pursue it until I achieve it."

To sponsor Elaine go to www.justgiving.com/neptunecalling.

Anyone interested in joining the crew for a leg of the journey can email oceanracer@clipperroundtheworld.com for more information or go to the website at www.clipperroundtheworld.com.