1 Man 1 Leg 1 Ocean

I was a British Army Infantry Soldier and served with the Irish Guards for 8 years. Originally born in the UK, I moved with my family to Achill Island off the coast of Ireland when I was just 2 years old, I moved back to the UK in 2005.  I  joined the British Army in 2006, serving on operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan. It was during a night patrol in Afghanistan in 2009 I  was blown up by an Improvised Explosive Device and lost my right leg below the knee.

When I left the Army in October 2014, I found myself looking for a new challenge and happened across Row2Recovery and the Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge. After a rigorous selection process I was delighted to be selected for the final four. We left La Gomera in the Canary Islands just before Christmas in 2015 and arrived in Antigua 46 days, 6 hours and 49 minutes later. Rowing 3000 miles of the Atlantic Ocean and coming 8th out of the 26 teams competing we became the first physically disabled team of four to row an ocean completely unsupported which earned us a Guinness World Record.

I am now planning to row the Atlantic again. Solo this time, to become the first Amputee to row across an ocean solo and completely unsupported.  The route I will take will depart from Newfoundland, Canada, arriving on Achill island, Ireland, emulating famous Ocean Rower Don Allums’ epic trip,  when he became the first man to successfully cross the Atlantic solo, in both directions in 1987.

During the last leg of his epic 5000 nautical mile journey Don encountered a bad storm, this lead him to come ashore on Achill Island, where I grew up. I have many memories of this momentous occasion and have photographs of me sitting in Don’s boat the QE3. Since this time, I have dreamed of rowing oceans and I believe doing this row for the 30th Anniversary of Don’s feat is a fitting tribute to the man and is a dream come true for me.

The expedition is expected to cost around  £42,000.00, I am seeking to fund £10,000.00 to help with costs of Shipping and Safety Equipment.  I will need to ship the boat to Canada in Early May so that I can leave St John’s in the first suitable weather window in June.  I am hoping the crossing will take between 60 and 90 days, I plan to arrive in Achill late August 2017, 30 years from when Don Allum came ashore.

 Some people may think I am  pushing the boundaries of my disability but for me it is about proving there are no boundaries only the ones you set yourself.

#1Man1Leg1Ocean #RowPaddyRow #NoBoundaries