On Saturday (Nov 28
th)
I’ll be heading off across the Atlantic as part of the
RORC Transatlantic yachtrace.
Eight years exactly since I last
set off across the big pond in a little rowing boat.
I can’t begin to
explain what a journey the last eight years has been for me, and how different
my life is now compared to what it was then. I was in a pretty dark place back
then, going through a divorce and deserted
by a couple of people that I had thought were my friends. My row across the Atlantic
in 2007 gave me the opportunity to escape from my troubles on land, and to
re-boot my life. It gave me the chance to start again.
During that adventure
across the waves, and in my journey since then I have discovered what my
passions are, what true friendships are, and most importantly what I want (and
don’t want!) from my life. Going to sea this time therefore is very much about living
my passion, which is what makes me feel alive.
I am extremely lucky
that my health, and my support group around me has allowed me to live a life
where I can now combine my personal passion for the ocean and my professional
passion in paediatric health. Through my adventures I have been able to raise
over £260,000 for charities close to my heart.
I feel extremely lucky
that I was born in Wales and not in Syria. And I feel extremely lucky that nature
did not inflict a genetic disorder upon me. I feel extremely lucky that I am
able to live this life of mine as I chose to do so.
A luxury that is not
granted to many!
As extremists killed
the lives of many innocent people in Paris the other weekend, I was at a family
conference for patients that have been born with a rare genetic disorder known
as neuronopathic gaucher disease. I won’t explain the impact that the disease has
on the child and their family around them. But needless to say it can be
devastating. Neuronopathic gaucher disease, like many other genetic disorders,
is pan-ethnic. That means that it can happen to you whatever colour your skin
is, whatever nationality you are, and whatever religion you believe in.
At the family
conference we had families who originate from all over the world, including
America, Denmark, Pakistan and India, and families who are Jewish, Muslim,
Christians and atheists. All together, supporting each other with an amazing
sense of community, all with the same life aspirations of health and
happiness.
Many lives around the
world are devastated by extreme acts of terrorism, in the same way that many
lives globally are devastated by life threatening and life-limiting
illnesses. Including that of the
phenomenal rugby player Jonah Lomu, who also lost his life to an extremely rare
disorder last week. His words that
resonated the most with me were when he said, “I’m just glad to have been given
the opportunity to do that I love most”.
Extremist terrorist
groups and genetic diseases are beyond what we can control, in our day-today
life. What’s not out of our control however is the way that we react to it. While
the response of the majority of my Facebook friends to the tragic events in
Paris showed great sadness and empathy for the lives lost, some sadly expressed
extreme views and negative opinions that beggared belief. Some showing complete
ignorance about the issues involved, and the rights of the refugees to escape
from their hell in Syria to our shores.
The life issues that I
escaped to sea from eight years ago pales into insignificance compared to those
that families that suffer from rare genetic disorders face every day, or what
the Syrian refuges are desperately trying to escape from.
It’s impossible to contemplate what would
drive a person to risk their life and that of their family on an unseaworthy
vessel to have the opportunity to
escape from their troubles on land, and to have the chance to start their lives
again.
On this adventure, I
hope that I can raise money and awareness for my nominated charity Findacure,
in their bid to support those suffering from rare genetic disorders. But I also
hope that it shows that no matter how tough life may seem, everyone can start
again if given the support and opportunity.
Follow the race on
Boat name Nunatak GBR9604R
Donate to Findacure
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