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Row for Hope Partners with Yale Cancer Center for trans-Atlantic Journey by Rowboat
In 2001, Paul and Joy Ridley founded Row for Hope, a non-profit organization that raises money for cancer research. The motivation to start their organization came when the siblings lost their mother to skin cancer earlier that year. Later that year, their father was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He was successfully treated, and is now cancer-free. However, the impact cancer had on the Ridley family remained.
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On December 1st, Paul will set out on a solo, unsupported, trans-Atlantic journey by rowboat in the hopes of raising $500,000 for Yale Cancer Center. Beginning in the Canary Islands, Paul will row 2950 miles to Antigua, over a span of 60 to 80 days. To achieve his goals, he will row 10-12 hours a day and will have to consume 8,000-10,000 calories a day. The boat is a state-of-the-art, custom-built fiberglass composite craft named Liv, Norwegian for “Life.” “There is no real connection between rowing and cancer research, but I wanted to find a way to raise money. I was able to find a way to combine supporting cancer research with what I do best. I'm not a scientist, but I can row,” said Paul.
About Paul
Paul Ridley is a 24 year-old resident of Stamford, Connecticut. His rowing career began at Colgate University and he continues to train out of Norwalk River Rowing Association, in Norwalk, CT. Paul was raised in Binghamton, New York. In early 2001 he lost his mother, Katherine Ridley, to malignant skin cancer. Later that year his father, Mark Ridley, was diagnosed with prostate cancer, was successfully treated, and is now cancer-free. Paul works for Greenwich Associates, a management consultancy to the asset management industry, in Stamford, CT. He is poised to become the third and youngest American to row any ocean solo and unsupported.
The Expedition
Paul’s unsupported trans-Atlantic expedition will begin in the Canary Islands in early December, 2008. With only oars to power him, he’ll set off from Africa to South America, crossing the whole of the Atlantic Ocean. Along the way he’ll row more than 3,000 nautical miles and spend between 60 and 80 days and nights at sea, landing in the Caribbean in February, 2009. While at sea, Paul will sleep in an enclosed cabin not much bigger than himself, and row 10-12 hours each day. Though Paul will be in contact with a land-based support team via satellite phone, he’ll be entirely alone on the open ocean with no chase boat or means of resupply. Paul’s journey will be truly solo and unassisted.
The expedition is an opportunity for Paul to make a significant contribution to cancer research in memory of his mother.
How to Help
"There is no limit to the ways you can make an impact. With the help of my wonderful team, I've been preparing for this journey mentally and physically, and I know what to expect. We have one goal and it is not to set records, but to raise $500,000 for cancer research. That is the only way in which our success will be measured,” Paul said.
For more information about Paul and his journey visit http://rowforhope.com/
Click here for the Latest News and Information on the Climb September 4, 2008
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