In 2000, I pedaled a bike 4,000 miles from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. for The Ability Experience, raising awareness for people living with disabilities. In 2006, I crossed an Ironman finish line in memory of my fallen teammate, Todd Porterfield. In 2024, I raced the WA360 with a team for five days nonstop sailing through the wild waters of Washington to keep that mission alive.
Each challenge had a cause. But this one—rowing 2,800 miles from Monterey to Hawaii in June 2027- two hours on two hours off for 40 to 60 days—has a soul.
Because this time, the fight isn’t just for others. It’s also for myself.
A few years ago, I fell into a darkness for a year and a half that I will never really understand. Depression isn’t the opposite of happiness—it’s the absence of vitality. It’s waking up and feeling nothing and it is terrifying. At my lowest, I had to ask for help, surrendering to the idea that I couldn’t muscle my way through. With the love of my family, my children Clover and Griffin, and the unwavering hands of friends, I began to rebuild. Slowly. Quietly.
And then—purpose returned over the month, and I worked to rebuild a life that had fallen into pieces – career, marriage, etc.
This row is my comeback. It’s a declaration that resilience can’t be rushed, but it can be chosen. It’s proof that even when you’re lost at sea—literally or mental health wise—you can still steer toward something bigger.
My father once gave me a necklace that he carved with the words: “A ship is safe in harbor, but that’s not what ships are built for.”
In June 2027, we’ll push off from Monterey Harbor, bound for Hawaii, to raise $10 million for NextStep Fitness—so others facing paralysis can find their own way back to movement, to purpose, to life.
Because everyone loves a comeback. And this one is mine.
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.
