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Thirty-seven-year-old
Stuart Boreham is the first person with cerebral palsy and the first
physically handicapped person in the world, to row single handed,
unassisted and unsupported across the Atlantic ocean.
I did it because I realised that nobody
with a disability had yet done it and I wanted to do it for
my own self achievement, but also to inspire other people.
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| Stuart
Boreham |
An
ex-pupil at King's School in Cheltenham he has in his own words,
"a very long and proud history with Gloucester and the area.
"I
went to school at the King’s School between 1978 and 1984 and
whenever I come back here I always regard it as coming home.
"I’ve
travelled all around the world because my father was in the Air
Force so it's nice to have one particular place I regard as home
and that’s Gloucester."
An
arduous task
Stuart
spent four months rowing single-handedly across the ocean and the
task proved all the more difficult because of his illness.
He
explained, "I was only able to row really from the waist up
as I couldn’t use my legs to deliver any power or strength
to the rowing.
"That
gave me very specific problems, I developed pressure sores on my
feet, I had something known as a sinus in between my knees, an infection
because my knees were jammed together all the time and it also gave
me back problems too."
Inspiration
Stuart
was inspired to tackle the 3,000-mile row for his own self fulfilment
and to act as an inspiration to others.
"I
did it because I realised that nobody with a disability had yet
done it and I wanted to do it for my own self achievement, but also
to inspire other people.
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I
doubted that I would get there several times and the biggest
single thing that I learnt during the journey was that achievement
in any walk of life is about self belief.
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| Stuart
Boreham |
"The
inspiration that I took to be successful on my trip was the row
in 1966 by Sir Chay Blythe and John Ridgeway. They had nothing like
the modern equipment, satellite telephone or water maker that I
had, and if they could make it then I was sure I could.
"I
take the philosophy that everybody is able to do something. The
one thing I learnt very much on the trip, I doubted that I would
get there several times and the biggest single thing that I learnt
during the journey was that achievement in any walk of life is about
self belief.
Physical
v mental
Heavy
seas and high winds proved a huge physical challenge during the
trip but it was the mental challenge that really surprised Stuart.
“It
was a huge mental challenge, far bigger than I imagined. I knew
from the outset that the mental side of it was going to be harder
than the physical side, and it was a huge mental challenge.
"I
was at sea for Christmas and New Year completely on my own. Christmas
Day I woke up, I could see 360 around the boat and there was nothing
there, not a ship, not a bird, nothing."
Rowing
for charity
Stuart
hopes his Atlantic challenge will have raised at least £25,000
for Macmillan Cancer Relief, and describes the trip as a life changing
experience.
"Without
a doubt it was a life changing experience. It was many, many journeys
and it wasn’t just about rowing a boat from point A to point
B. Without a doubt it's been a huge life changing experience."
So
what's next for the intrepid adventurer?
"What
I want to do now is share the story with as many people as possible
to motivate and inspire them to do something, whatever they seek
in their life.
“People
have disabilities in various ways but everybody whether disabled
or abled bodied can do something."
Article
by Nat Hall
Read
some of the features you may have missed in our
archive
section or
get in touch at gloucestershire@bbc.co.uk.
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Disabled
oarsman Stuart Boreham was the first person with cerebral palsy to
row the Atlantic alone and unaided. He told BBC Gloucestershire what
inspired him to make the journey.
