eXXpedition '19 - Yanika Borg

**** Update, 4th January 2019: My eXXpedition journey in November was a tough, fun and eye-opening experience. I learnt so much about plastic and also, somewhat unexpectedly, about who I am. I am extremely grateful for all those who supported me and who made this possible. Keep fighting the good fight against plastic pollution - the time is now. I will be closing down this sponsorship page but if you would like to get in touch you can find me on Facebook under the handle @yanikaborgexxpedition **** Update, 29th June 2019: I have been blown away by the response from everyone. This IS a really important issue for so many people for so many different reasons. So now that I've almost reached my £2K sponsorship goal, let's keep going! I am raising my goal to £3K to get closer to the £9K total which I require for this journey. Keep fighting the good fight everyone ***** If you would like to sign up for email updates as I prepare for this journey, you can sign up here ***** Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Yanika (that’s me in the bottom left!), a data scientist from Malta, currently living in London. I’ve got a PhD in Synthetic Biology and am passionate about protecting our environment. By 2050 there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish. That doesn’t sound right, does it? The good thing is that we’re still in time to do something about it and save our amazing planet from unsustainable decline. Having grown up by the beautiful Mediterranean Sea, I don't want to see it destroyed so I've decided to do something about the ocean plastic problem by joining eXXpedition. eXXpedition is an all-female sailing crew looking to tackle the ocean plastic epidemic via citizen science and scientific research. Our amazing work has been featured on SkyNews, The Guardian, Gizmodo and CNN. The crews sail the oceans aboard a 70ft yacht, collecting data and collaborating with universities, while empowering girls and women to choose and thrive in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) sectors. eXXpedition have launched Round The World (RTW) , their most ambitious project to date to highlight the misuse of single use plastics and the toxicity of microplastics, as seen below: I have been fortunate to be selected from thousands of applicants to join the crew for 3 weeks of ocean plastic research in October, as they sail from the Azores to Antigua. This will take us through the infamous Great Atlantic Garbage Patch, an area of dense debris. I am currently looking for sponsorship to support me on this extremely important cause and journey. I need to raise around £9,000, and I need you to help me get there! I'm offering the following (plus lots and lots of gratitude!) in return for your support: Sponsorship of £20+ : ⦁ Yay! I’ll create and send you an empty custom-made postcard with debris from the middle of the Atlantic, for you to share with your clients, family and friends! Sponsorship of £50+ : ⦁ Thanks A LOT! I’ll print and send you a large photo print of two of my favourite photos from the journey, with an anecdote of when and where the photos where taken ⦁Plus the above Sponsorship of £100+ : ⦁ Very exciting! I’ll send you a surprise gift (a book, plastic-free home accessory, or similar) ⦁Plus all of the above Sponsorship of £250+ : ⦁ Magnificent! I’ll deliver a 30-minute presentation at your local community/workplace in person (London or Malta) or via Skype to raise awareness and share my experience ⦁Plus all of the above Sponsorship of £500+ : ⦁ Incredible! Get in touch to discuss how I can support your cause towards a plastic-free future Thank you so much for taking the time to read and donate! It is much appreciated. If you've got any queries or would like further information, please do get in touch! Yanika