Crammed in a small boat with no shower, toilet or refrigerator, three French sailors are determined to fulfil their dream to sail around the world to raise awareness about cerebral palsy.

"There is no need for a lot of money to achieve your dreams and help others. If many others do the same thing, we can make a difference," Brice Monegier says, before he navigates his boat out of Malta this morning after a 10-day stay.

His Sailing For Passeraile initiative is aimed at young adults suffering from the debilitating illness by involving them in cultural and sport projects. It also seeks to raise public awareness of the lack of suitable facilities in France for such people.

The project includes two boats, a real one - the eight-metre Kifouine - with three young sailors who have been travelling the world for three years, and a virtual one run by young adults with cerebral palsy.

The virtual boat will make headway in the "race" thanks to donations from businesses and individuals. For each euro donated, the boat will move one nautical mile.

The group visiting Malta includes five young French people with cerebral palsy who flew over from Paris with their friends, skilled in assisting disabled people.

Organised by the Maltese Embassy in Paris, the Malta stopover offered young people a chance to set off and discover a different culture, life, new landscapes and meet new friends.

They also had the opportunity to contact local associations and visit schools for people with cerebral palsy and other physical disabilities. While on the island, the group was assisted by the Gozo-based Arka Foundation and Land - Living Ability Not Disability, with the collaboration of the National Commission Persons with Disability, among others.

Mr Monegier, who has two cousins who suffer from cerebral palsy, came up with the idea of sailing around the world with two university friends in 1999.

"Sailing is a passion and I wanted to share it with those less fortunate. We're trying to give these individuals a life of their own, not just medicine. We want to change the people's perception of the handicapped," the 29-year old says.

The three sailors left France in July 2003 and are expected back home at the end of May after several stopovers around the world.

The round the world trip took them from the Atlantic to the Pacific to South Africa to the East Coast of Africa and on to the Mediterranean.

The trip has been far from plain sailing. The boat's rudder was damaged on two occasions, leaving the sailors stranded in the middle of the ocean. On one occasion, it took them 23 days to sail 800 miles. Another time, the lack of wind meant it took them 57 long days to reach Tahiti from Panama.

But as the marathon trip draws to a close, Mr Monegier and his crew are patting themselves on the back for an initiative that has made a difference to the lives of many.

"We have seen so many people suffering from cerebral palsy leave different countries with sparkles in their eyes after a fortnight. These people deserve an opportunity like others. And we're happy to have been part of it."

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