Charitable Adventure: Ridley's Voyage Across the Atlantic

It's so encouraging when people take difficult experiences, like losing a loved one, and use it for good. Consider Paul Ridley. His mother died of skin cancer. So he decided to row across the Atlantic Ocean to raise money for the fight against cancer! His website, Row for Hope, details his epic journey from Africa (in the Canary Islands) to South America (Antigua), during which he endured temperamental weather, curious sharks (among other wildlife), a slightly inoperable water purifier, sea sickness, and the challenges of isolation and physical and mental exhaustion.

His voyage across the Atlantic is truly a remarkable accomplishment, as it was a genuine, solo, unassisted expedition. However, Ridley is quick to clarify his motivations for endeavoring such a legendary adventure. On his website, he writes:

“I’m glad you’ve found Row for Hope and I’m excited to have you join me in an adventure that is unlike any other; one that will test the limits of the human spirit, challenge your beliefs about what is possible, and make a small but lasting difference in the world of cancer research [...] Unlike many adventurers, my motivation for rowing the Atlantic is not to set a world record or to do something that has never been done before, though through this expedition I will ultimately do both. What I found in ocean rowing, and I hope you find too, is the magical combination of true adventure and a unique and powerful form of philanthropy that will make a difference."

Ridley's "Row for Hope" has been well documented through the news, not to mention his website and blog. Here, CNN reports on his progress mid-journey...



For more information on Ridley's charitable adventure on the high seas, be sure to check out his website or blog!