Alan sets off across the Atlantic

In an amazing feat of bravery, Alan Lau, set off on the 7th of December to row solo and unsupported across the Atlantic Ocean to raise money for our work  He set off from Gran Canaria and is aiming to arrive approximately 90 days later in Barbados, covering a distance of 3,000 miles using only the power from his oars.

As a motorcycle racer, triathlete, long distance cyclist and a gravity enduro mountain biker, Alan is not unfamiliar with challenges. He has dreamed about crossing oceans in a boat since his childhood and the dream started to become reality in winter 2008 when he was inspired by reading the story of another ocean rower coming to the end of her challenge.

In addition to raising funds for our work, Alan is also hoping that his adventure will inspire others to step outside of their comfort zones.  The boat “CurryFishball” that will be used for the crossing has been specially built by Rossiter Yachts, a family run business spanning 3 generations of boat builders who Alan has really enjoyed working with; “I feel safe knowing that my boat has been built by Cris Rossiter and his team.”

His expedition is fully self funded, with a very lean team that helped with preparations. During the expedition itself, only the safety co-ordinator is involved from land, to provide weather information and co-ordinate communications.

To engage with the community and to help raise awareness as well as funds, Alan has been running several competitions and raffle draws for school children to get involved in. Competitions have ranged from creating the best theme for the boat to be painted with to designing the T-shirt graphics for the team. He has also given short trips in the boat.

You can help support his cause by going to his Justgiving page and follow the adventure by reading his blog which will actually track the boats progress across the ocean! Just go to the ‘Where is Alan’ tab on his website.

We’re hugely grateful to Alan for choosing to support us through this incredible personal challenge and wish him every success in his adventure. Watch this space for updates as and when they come through.