I am rowing 2,800 miles from Monterey, California to Hanalei Bay, Kauaʻi in June 2027. I
will be 64 and a half at the start. Four of us will row nonstop, around the clock, two
hours on, two hours off. The crossing should take 40 to 60 days. That is the plan. Plans
change. We adapt.
Fewer than 450 people have ever completed this crossing. That fact keeps the work
honest.
I have no rowing experience. I get severely seasick. Training so far has not been kind. I
ruptured a ligament in my left wrist. I tore my medial meniscus. I injured my MCL. I have
severe cartilage damage inside my knee. The word injured barely covers it. I am injured,
and I am committed.
My training now blends hard work with careful repair. I do physical therapy. I bike and
row on machines to protect my joints. I use cold plunges and saunas. I practice
disciplined breathwork to steady my nerves and quiet my stomach. I treat recovery as
mission critical.
This row is not a stunt. I choose to be here. It is a test of purpose and a measure of
legacy.
I do it to prove that life does not stop because age or injury arrives. I do it to
show the value of preparation and the power of a team. My teammates carry me when I
cannot carry myself. I return the favor.
I will approach each day with quiet purpose. I will be mindful of my body’s limits. I will
push only where it is safe to push. I will rest when rest is the right choice. I will meet the
ocean on its terms and accept what it teaches.
If you want to follow the journey, come along. There will be pain and progress. There
will be fear and focus. There will be stories worth telling. I will row, one shift at a time.
Be a Row4NextStep ambassador — help us raise awareness that in the U.S., 6 million people live with paralysis, facing daily challenges that extend far beyond mobility, often without access to affordable, specialized rehabilitation and fitness.
With the right resources — research-based therapy, supportive communities, and accessible care — they can live healthier, fuller lives, making access a necessity, not a privilege.
Your support powers recovery with NextStep, providing rehabilitation, training, and hope for those living with paralysis. Together, we can create strength and independence.
