Colwyn Bay-based Jon Osborne and a dedicated group of friends will set out on a huge challenge to raise valuable funds for St Kentigern Hospice.

This May the team will set sail from Conwy aboard Jon’s yacht Kika to take on the challenge of sailing a route which will circumnavigate the UK.

The team will be made up of Jon’s friends of varying skill, who will take on different legs of the journey to support John who will sail the whole way.

Jon and Yacht Kika have taken on a number of personal trips since their first sail in 1976 However this time they will have an additional motivation for this challenge as Jon knows only too well about the funds needed at St Kentigern on a continual basis.

The retired ENT Consultant from Glan Clwyd Hospital became trustee at the St Asaph-based hospice in 2016 and has recently been appointed as Vice Chairman in 2019.

Jon said: "I am very excited about this challenge. The fundraising potential it could have is huge and the difference it could really make for local people requiring the support of St Kentigern Hospice is enormous.

"St Kentigern is currently investing massively to ensure that the services and facilities at the hospice are meeting the needs of the local community for current and future generations. We are proud to be part of this and are hopeful that people will get behind us’

The group aim to leave Conwy on Monday, May 13 and circumnavigate the UK in a clockwise direction. They will be up against the unpredictable British weather but aim to be back home in Conwy on July 13.

‘We are thrilled by this incredible support from Jon, Kika and his team and looking forward to hearing all about the journey. We are always delighted by the generosity of individuals and groups like Jon who go out of their way to support the hospice in such magnificent and different ways ’

Jon will be keeping a Blog updated during the journey, if you would like to follow the team this will be online at www.yachtkika.co.uk

If anyone would like to support Team Kika with donations on their challenge visit: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/JonOsborne