A Sydney doctor is sailing solo on a three-month trip to the United States to raise $100,000 for indigenous literacy.
While on a visit to the Northern Territory a few years ago, Andrew Brazier learnt that in some indigenous communities only one in 10 indigenous children could read.
He says he grew up with his mother telling him "you have to learn to read, once you can read you can do anything", so the disparity in literacy rates sparked the 27-year-old into action.
Dr Brazier will on Sunday set sail in his 34-foot yacht from Glebe's Blackwattle Bay for the United States - a 15,000km journey through the Pacific Ocean.
The trip is a big step up from the longest sailing trip he has ever done - one week from Queensland to Sydney.
Dr Brazier is aiming to raise $100,000 for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, which creates awareness and funds to address literacy levels in remote indigenous communities.
"If you want to bring about change in communities and really help communities improve, that has to come from within from some degree," he told AAP.
"By giving these kids the gift of literacy you can help them imagine."
He has raised about $10,000 of his fundraising goal, and if he reaches the $100,000 mark it would help buy 10,000 books for 50 to 100 remote communities.
The books would also go to women's groups, health care centres, schools, playgroups and organisations like the Royal Flying Doctor Service to be given out in communities.
Share
