MP Sarah Newton has announced the Tall Ships Challenge 2014 –- a coast to coast sponsored walk in Cornwall, in May, to raise funds to enable the locally-based charity Turn to Starboard to take part in the Falmouth to Royal Greenwich Tall Ships Regatta.

The charity supports military personnel, who often struggle with the experiences they have encountered on military operations, when they return home. Opportunities are provided for returning military staff to learn sailing skills and gain qualifications that could lead to a new career path in civilian life.

Mrs Newton set up the Tall Ships Challenge in 2008 to raise funds to enable 12 young people from the Falmouth area to take part in the previous Tall Ships Regatta. For this year she is organising a sponsored walk challenge from the south coast to the north coast of Cornwall.

She said: “I am really pleased to be working with Shaun and the team at Turn to Starboard in undertaking my Tall Ships Challenge. Highlighting the immense contribution of our armed services is an important part of my work and I am pleased to be undertaking the challenge to underline my personal appreciation of the sacrifices they make for our country.”

A group will sail on board the Tall Ship Pelican, from Falmouth to Royal Greenwich in London as part of the Falmouth Tall Ships Regatta at the end of August.

“The group will be made up of 28 post-operational tour men and women who have served in Afghanistan,” said Shaun Pascoe, the charity’s chief executive officer. “We will be racing against 40 other vessels. It will be a great shared experience – and we plan to win.”

Now based in the UK, Pelican was originally built in France in 1946 to work in the Arctic. She is a 44-metre barquentine, with a hull derived from the clippers of the late 19th Century and rig based on the Barbary Coast pirate ships of two centuries earlier.

Pelican will be one of nine impressive A Class Tall Ships berthed in Falmouth Docks for the regatta. These vessels will be open to the public for onboard visits from August 28 to 30. A further 30 vessels will be berthed at Port Pendennis Marina and Custom House Quay.

Details of how to take part in the Tall Ships Challenge Coast to Coast sponsored walk are available from Mrs Newton’s office on 01872 274760. The walk is on May 3 and 4 and covers 27 miles from St Anthony’s Head on the Roseland to Holywell Bay near Newquay. To make a donation visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/SarahNewtonMP Further information about the Turn to Starboard charity can be found on turntostarboard.co.uk The latest information about the August regatta and how to sign up to take part in the race can be found on falmouthtallships.co.uk, join us on Facebook Tall Ships Falmouth 2014 or follow us on Twitter/www.falmouthtallships.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Tall-Ships-Falmouth-Town-Working-Group.jpg" \* MERGEFORMATINET> @tallships_2014