3:46pm Sunday 11th May 2008
By Will Carson
A HAMPSHIRE sailor lives her ocean racing dream today - thanks to her home village.
Hamble sailor Miranda Merron's bid to compete in today's 3,000-mile Artemis Transat race from Plymouth to Boston suffered a setback when the 38-year-old suffered a brain haemorrhage in October.
Despite a rapid recovery, the experienced offshore sailor needed to raise £10,000 to cover the entry fee and insurance costs.
After a campaign was launched in Hamble to support Miranda, the village rallied round and raised more than £8,000.
Local businessman Peter Harding, who has loaned Miranda his Class 40 yacht, has offered to make up any shortfall.
"I can't thank everyone enough for their generosity," said Miranda.
"I can't believe I'm getting all this support. It is very humbling and it will really help me get through the tough times in the race, knowing how many people I have behind me."
Since the launch of the campaign, dubbed We Support Miranda, donations have come rolling in from friends and family, numerous companies based in or around Hamble, yacht clubs, French companies, yacht race organisers, several media partners and even strangers who had read about Miranda's challenge.
Supporters were asked to sponsor one degree of longitude between the start line in Plymouth and the finish in Boston.
Many companies gave well above the originally requested amount of £100.
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