My eXXpedition

I will start by explaining what this project is: eXXpedition Round the World 2019 - 2021 is an all-female sailing voyage and scientific research mission, divided in 30 legs and over 38,000 nautical miles, starting and ending in the UK. Research on board will highlight the impact of plastic and toxics from land-based activities on oceans, ecosystems and human health. eXXpedition was founded in 2014 by Emily Penn and Dr Lucy Gilliam aiming to make the unseen seen.

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I am stoked to have been selected as 1 of 14 women to sail on eXXpedition round the world Leg 13 in June, 2020 (Vanuatu to Cairns, Australia) in the Pacific Ocean on a 72 foot scientific exploration vessel. We will be doing research on plastics in the ocean. With this expedition we hope to raise awareness and ignite public support on this issue, explore actions and solutions to the devastating environmental and health impacts of single-use plastics and toxics in the world's ocean, to inspire others to take action, and to promote women in science, leadership and adventure. I will be part of the research and data collection team aboard the sailboat and I am also going to be a part of the planning solutions team. I will be contributing with critical thinking to find new solutions to help preserve our oceans. I am the kind of person who believes we can all make a difference with our actions and positive change.

My motivation for joining eXXpedition is my passion for the ocean, new adventures, challenges and exchanging ideas with inspiring people with the same mindset. I want to see in first-hand the extension of this big problem and be able to create a positive change. I live focused on not creating harm to environment, and in preventing it as much as I can from occurring to the environment through my interactions with it. It goes beyond an idea and extends to actual practices that influence how communities, businesses and individuals conduct themselves.
I hope to use this experience to raise more awareness around plastic use and pollution. I expect that this adventure will help me to get the means to reduce the impact of these problems, especially in Asia, where I am currently living, because is really alarming.
I am looking forward to gain more knowledge and resourcefulness from this experience so that I could apply and share the same advocacy in our community that hopefully would increase awareness and encourage initiatives from different people for the betterment of our future.

However, this project, by its scale and grandeur, has huge financial costs. To make the eXXpedition possible, the crew committed to volunteer our time and contribute to the cost of the trip. This money goes to the core costs of logistics, equipment and vessel maintenance - a trip around the world is a big project.

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I am saving a lot to increase my participation, but i need to raise around £10,000 (around 11.000€), this includes: the cost of flights to Vanuatu and back from Cairns (Australia) as well the crew fees and my own personal sea gear.

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I am fundraising (https://www.gofundme.com/f/eli-exxpedition-round-the-world-2019-2021) and looking for sponsors to cover some of the participation costs for leg 13, in June 2020. 

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So if you feel that you can spare some change or  if you are interested and helping me in anyway please reach out.

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Thank you for your time and wish me luck!

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