What does freedom mean to you? How does it feel to be free? Every nation, person, and living being loves to celebrate freedom. Natasha, a brave young sailor, is suffering from athertoid cerebral palsy which has affected her limbs and cannot walk or sit unaided. She celebrates her ultimate freedom by sailing a boat completely by herself. Her new independent and exciting life has been possible because of her enormous courage and the strong support of her father Gary Lambert and mother Amanda Lambert. This freedom did not come easily for Natasha’s family. Her dad’s hard work and dedication resulted in a customized boat and made it possible for Natasha to sail comfortably. Natasha smartly learned to sail a boat by mouth via a single tube and a sip-puff system. She is raising money for various causes via her remarkable sailing challenges. Natasha is a youngest person in the Country to be awarded a British Empire Medal in The Queen’s Birthday Honours. We are proud of Natasha and her family for setting an incredible example for all of us to follow.

Can you tell us about your first sailing experience? What type of sail boat do you use and who helped make this possible?N: My first sailing experience was when I was 9 years old., in 2007. We went on a family holiday to a specialist activity centre for people with disabilities, where I was able to have a go at climbing, abseiling, horse riding, as well as sailing, on a large lake. I loved being on the water, and when we came home, as we live by the sea and our home town is a big sailing centre, Mum and Dad looked to see if there was anywhere that had facilities to help disabled sailors, as we hadn't thought it possible before.
We found a local RYA Sailability centre and a local sailing School that took disabled people sailing, and so I tried for a while, but I was just a passenger in a boat. As I have complex needs none of the boats had a suitable seat that supported me, nor had any controls I could use, as I cant use my hands or feet, but I still loved being out on the water. I desperately wanted to be able to sail myself.
My Dad came up with some ideas....He first adapted a seat that could be used in a boat for me so that I no longer needed 'holding in'.(2009) Then he bought me a model boat and had it converted so that I could control it with a straw. (This was after spending lots of time seeing what the quickest most reliable method of control for me would be, and as I drink through a straw, I practised blowing too, as I needed 2 different actions to quickly control a switch) The model boat worked brilliantly, I learnt to control the model boat on a boating lake, by siping on the straw to turn the boat to starboard (right) and blowing to turn to port (left) Control of a boat at last! Now for the next stage... Now Dad knew I could control a model boat he had no doubt he could adapt a full size boat for me.
(My Dad is an electrician, mainly working in houses not boats!!!) Dad set about leaning a bit about electronics and using open source software) we managed to buy a second hand keelboat, and Dad started working to convert it. Fitting a canting seat he designed and had made out of stainless steel, we fitted on it a seating system from a wheelchair. Dad made switches, and with connections, fitted a ram to the tiller of the boat, and we tried lots of ways of positioning the straw for me to use, eventually mounting it in a helmet as I could move my head around as much as I wanted and the straw is always in front of me, just where I need it.
By 2010, age 14, I had a boat I could learn to sail myself! It was epic! The freedom just incredible!!! The very best part, my absolutely favourite experience ever, was the first time I sailed a boat myself. It was a cold bright November day, in the Solent, the sea, just between The Isle of Wight and the South coast of Britain. My Mum and Dad, and sailing coach were in the Safety rib following me, my coach was shouting out instructions..... as I sailed towards Southampton he shouted to me to slow the boat down so he could come back on board to sail in, but I was loving the control!, instead I tacked the boat (turned it around ) and sailed back out across the water to Cowes on The Isle of Wight, it was superb, I had never had so much fun! Nobody was with me I was completely free and in control of a boat on the sea! The most amazing experience ever, I absolutely loved it!!! Now I wanted to do so much more, I felt there were suddenly no limits! This boat was an Artemis 20, a 21ft keelboat, but at only a meter wide, it is great for sailing locally, but I wanted to go further and faster! So far I was controlling the helm (the steering) but the boat was not converted for me to set the sails, this was the next stage! But the boat I had was not big enough to fit the electronic winches etc we would need. In 2012 Dad travelled to Spain after we found another boat to buy, called a Mini Transat, these boats are very stable fast boats which are used for racing single handed across The Atlantic. The Mini Transat has been suggested as a suitable boat for me by World record holder and Professional Sailor Brian Thompson.
Conversion of this boat, again by my Dad, Gary, took 6 months (2012) In the September of 2012 I did my 1st fundraising sail. I had wanted to set myself a goal, a big challenge for me, and as I live on an Island, with 60miles of coastline, decided to sail all around it in a day. A massive challenge for me, it took just over 12 hours sailing, from dawn at 5.30am to arriving back on the dock at 6pm in the evening. My mouth was so soar it was bleeding a little, I was exhausted but so thrilled, absolutely buzzing a completely mixed up set of emotions for me, I cried and laughed pretty much at the same time! Leading up to and during the trip I raised money for some local charities, an amazing total of £17,000.
I felt so pleased that I could actually help others, it was an incredible feeling, as people usually help me, so to be in opposite position of helping others was great! The money I raised was used to buy a kitchen for our local lifeboat crew at their lifeboat station, take 10 young people recovering from Cancer out on 4 day sailing trips and also buy much needed equipment for local people with cerebral palsy like me. I got to know lots of new people involved with the charities, so the whole experience was brilliant, and again I wanted to do more and raise more money in future....

How did you feel when you received the British Empire Medal in the Queen's Birthday Honor’s list?N: In July last year, I was absolutely stunned to receive a very special letter.... I had been awarded a British Empire Medal in The Queens Birthday Honours. I felt so proud I could burst! To think someone like me could receive such an honour, and I didn't know someone my age could ever be awarded a medal! I had only just had my 18th Birthday 2 weeks before, I was the youngest person in the Country to be awarded a British Empire Medal. It was such an exciting time, I received so many messages, and was on the radio and TV with Mum and Dad , it was absolutely incredible. I am so pleased as it is so good to be able to show people that just because you have a disability dosent mean you cant achieve great things, anything is possible.
I have found that since sailing started and the things I have been able to achieve, many people treat me differently as they have something to talk to me about, they can identify with me, which is fantastic.

How many sailing challenges have you done so far? Which challenge have you enjoyed the most?N: Over the next 3 years, I sailed across the Channel to France. I sailed 500 mile to Wales and climbed the highest mountain in Souther Britain at 3000ft Pen y Fan using my special Hart walker with a fab support team to support me, and last year I sailed 350 mile to London , sailing right up the Thames into the Capital, and walking through the busy streets of London city to the Bank of England, again fundraising.
Each one of the challenges has meant something special for me and been very different, sailing across The channel and crossing one of the busiest shipping channels in the world to another Country, spending a couple of days in France was fantastic, to think I cant cross a room without help but I crossed to another Country on my own!!! Sailing the beautiful South coast of England, being accompanied by seals and Dolphin was amazing and then rounding Lands End the most southern tip of England and experiencing the Atlantic swell, crossing the Bristol Channel in a force 6 , was like flying, so exhilarating! And finishing the 5 week trip by climbing a mountain was something I had always wanted to do, so the icing on the cake of a fab adventure! I loved being part of a team, and everyone worked together.
Sailing to London was again very different sailing especially sailing The Thames and right up to Tower Bridge, lots of tacking (turning ) and incredible sights. I have loved each Challenge for different reasons, I just want to do more and raise more money for Charity. (So far I have raised just over £50,000)

How long did it take you to become comfortable with sailing?N: I have been comfortable with sailing from the very start, I have always loved being out on the water, in all sorts of conditions, but I have always liked to be outdoors. I much prefer to be outside, even if its windy and raining than being inside.

Who is your inspiration?N: I have 2 people that continue to inspire me and they are Dame Ellen MacArthur, as she had to work immensely hard to succeed in a mans world and battle against prejudices to achieve her goals sailing around the world, and Geoff Holt a sailor who at the age of 21 lost the use of his legs in an accident, but again though his perseverance determination succeeded in becoming the first quadriplegic to sail solo across the Atlantic. Both people I have had the pleasure to meet several times, and each time they inspire me, with their infectious positive personalities.

What are your other hobbies?N: Love being outdoors.

What is your favorite place to visit?N: One of my favourite places is The New Forest, just across the water on the Mainland, a National Park where horses and donkeys roam. We often go for walks and picnics.

What do you like to do when you are with your family?N: I love walking in my Hart Walker, that I have had since age 3. My family and I go for walks up the lane where I live daily, along the coast, in woods and forests and up hills, and I love it all.

What is your favorite movie?N: I don't spend much time watching TV etc., and don't have a favourite film, but I do like adventure type films, such as James Bond and The Bourne Indentity.

Any special message for our community?N:  My message to others, would be to Hold onto your dreams, don't give up, continue to search for a way to achieve them. Technology is changing all the time, all sorts of incredible things can be possible!