A HUDDERSFIELD woman is to take part in a gruelling sailing challenge to raise awareness about the dangers of carbon monoxide.

Lyz McKenna, 48, plans to compete in the 09-10 Clipper Race to raise awareness of the deadly gas and for Huddersfield charity The Dominic Rodgers Trust.

The trust was set up to raise awareness about carbon monoxide (CO) by Deighton woman Stacey Rodgers, whose 10-year-old son Dominic died of carbon monoxide poisoning in 2004.

The Clipper Race starts in September next year and lasts 18 months. It was started in 1995 by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first man to sail solo non-stop around the world.

He wanted everyone – regardless of background or level of sailing knowledge – to experience ocean racing. Some sailors complete the whole event, while others such as Lyz, who is from Sheepridge, settle for finishing a leg.

Lyz will be taking part on the last leg of the race, from Jamaica to New York, to Halifax in Nova Scotia, to Cork in Ireland and finally home to Liverpool. The journey will start in July, 2010, and take six weeks,

Past Clipper Races have been followed by more than 200m people in 202 countries.

Lyz said husband Vincent, daughter Lauren, 18, and 10-year-old son Jack think she is mad for taking on the challenge, but are being supportive.

She said: “My family think I’m barmy. But they are also very proud because they know the undertaking that’s involved. I have got a bit of an adventurous side.

“I suffered a couple of losses in my family in a short time and I felt I needed to go out and do something life-changing.

“I go abseiling and quad-biking, but they didn’t seem enough. I came across the Clipper Race and that was it.

“It is a massive commitment. I am looking forward to it. I haven’t lost any of my motivation and I am completely committed.”

Lyz is improving her fitness level with person trainer Darrell Rose before taking on an intensive three week training course in September. This will allow her to take part in the race as an active crew member.

After training crew members are assigned to one of the 10 racing clippers. On each yacht the only qualified and experienced sailor will be the captain.

At the end of the race though, all the crew members will be awarded the Royal Sailing Association qualification.

As well as boosting her fitness to take part Lyz must also find £8,000 to pay for her leg of the trip. She aims to do this with a mix of personal funds and fund-raising. She decided to use her fundraising events to help raise awareness for the Dominic Rodgers Trust.

She and her supporters have formed a ‘friends group’ for the charity, called Carbon Monoxide Women, or COW for short.

Lyz said she chose the trust because it is a local charity but campaigns for a cause that affects people worldwide.

“I thought raising awareness would give an added benefit rather than just me going out there and doing something for myself.

“Carbon monoxide poisoning is totally indiscriminate and is global. I consider myself very fortunate to be able to both achieve a personal goal as well as support a small but very effective charity.

“Through my preparation for the race and the forthcoming events we have planned, I will be able to raise awareness of how to avoid the devastation of losing someone to a horrendous killer.”

Carbon monoxide is an odourless, tasteless and colourless gas which can be produced by appliances that use carbon fuels, gas, wood, oil or coal. Once in the body it prevents oxygen being absorbed into the bloodstream, which can lead to serious health problems and often death.

Miss Rodgers has campaigned tirelessly to encourage people to have yearly gas safety checks in their homes and ensure appliances are serviced.

She has also urged everyone to have an audible carbon monoxide detector in their homes.

She said she was grateful for Lyz’s efforts to raise awareness of the ‘silent killer’.

“This is a brilliant idea. I am only too happy to support her. The awareness we can spread both in Britain and globally is outstanding. This will really carry the carbon monoxide safety message on. If our events help save just one more life, then it will all have been worthwhile.”

The first event in Lyz’s fundraising programme will be a music night tomorrow in The Anderson Suite above 41 Kirkgate. Music will be by hillbilly band Hank Muldoon and the Hangovers and there will be a hot supper and raffle.

Tickets cost £7 and can be bought on the door or reserved by calling 01484 512111. To sponsor Lyz, contact her on 07912077562 or email lizziet@hotmail.com