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After 87 Days at Sea, Paul Ridley Lands in Antigua
On March 29th, Paul Ridley completed his 2950 mile, solo, unsupported, trans-Atlantic journey rowing from the Canary Islands to Antigua in the hopes of raising $500,000 for Yale Cancer Center. In 2007, Paul and his sister Joy 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 in 2001. Then later that year their father was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He was successfully treated, and is now cancer-free.
"There's no obvious 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. Paul is the third and youngest American to row any ocean solo and unsupported. His journey began with many of the challenges he had expected; seas sickness, difficulty sleeping, and troubles with rowing at night, but overall his journey got off to a good start with favorable weather. He detailed the events of his journey through a daily blog at http://solorow.blogspot.com/
Row for Hope partnered with Yale Cancer Center to fund cutting-edge research that is dedicated to bringing tomorrow’s cancer treatments and cures to patients today. "We knew we wanted to be associated with one of the most well-known, most successful cancer research centers in the country. After meeting and interacting with the physician's and staff at Yale Cancer Center, we knew it was the right place. It is a place where real progress is being made in cancer research," Paul explained. Funds raised by Row for Hope in 2008-2009 will help to expand the efforts of Dr. Mario Sznol, Vice-Chief of Medical Oncology and Co-Director of the Yale Cancer Center Melanoma Program. Dr. Sznol’s expertise is in cancer immunotherapy, early drug development for cancer, and the treatment of patients with melanoma and renal cell carcinoma.
Paul’s customized rowboat Liv, Norwegian for “Life,” held up well in the large waves and rough seas, and suffered only minor leaks and damages.
Paul has seen the different outcomes that can occur when someone is diagnosed with cancer, and he and his sister Joy are doing everything they can to support the research that saved their father, and to prevent other families from having to experience what they went through when they lost their mother. This rowing journey was a way for Paul to not only support cancer research, but to honor his mother's memory as well.
To learn more, visit http://rowforhope.com/