Ferry disaster women help island

Eighty people including passengers and crew died off Paros

Two Brighton women who survived a ferry disaster in Greece in which 80 people died are raising funds for the rescue team set up after the tragedy.

Niki Gibson-Hosking, 33, and Katrina Wallace, 30, are cycling from Lands End to John O' Groats in August.

Survivors said the ferry hit rocks at full speed in 2000. Many had no time to don lifejackets and witnesses said there was no time to launch lifeboats.

The British Navy joined local boats, and coastguards in the rescue effort.

The fund-raisers are aiming to raise £5,000 for equipment for the voluntary branch of the Hellenic Sea Rescue Team based on the island of Paros, where the Samina Express Ferry sank.

This whole experience involves us facing past traumas Katrina Wallace

They are due to set off from East Sussex on 14 August accompanied by two friends on the sponsored bike ride.

Ms Gibson-Hosking said: "This cause is very personal and close to our hearts."

She said the 1,000-mile bike ride was to give something positive back to the community of Parikia - a resort on Paros.

And Ms Wallace said the pair would be in Paros on 26 September - the anniversary of the disaster, to pay their respects.

She said: "This will be very emotional and bring up a lot of feelings from the disaster but also will be a positive step forward."

And she added: "This whole experience involves us facing past traumas and will no doubt touch on a lot of painful memories.

"I wasn't able to talk about the disaster for a long time and have just got on with my life."

Both spent "several terrifying hours stranded on a rock at sea" before they were finally rescued by a British Navy helicopter from the HMS Invincible.