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Row for Water

Vital Stats

Katie s

Mentor, OH

people helped4000
People Doing It 100

The Problem

Right now, over a billion lives around the world are at risk due to a lack of safe drinking water, something which many of us take for granted. This dilemma is affecting millions in Africa, Asia, Central and South America. Water is either scarce or contaminated. In many countries the water problem is the main reason people are unable to rise out of poverty. To address the issue of safe drinking water is to address issues of health, peace, education, economy and the environment. Unsafe drinking water is the leading cause of sickness, disease and death worldwide ― but it's a problem that, working together, we can solve.

Plan of Action

In March 2010, I completed a solo row across the Atlantic Ocean, setting a new record as the youngest solo ocean rower. This adventure received widespread media coverage in the US and around the world, and resulted in being honored by Glamour Magazine as one of their "Women of the Year", alongside people like Julia Roberts, Cher and Queen Rania of Jordan. Throughout her row, I wasn’t just seeking to make history. I was also raising money, for the Blue Planet Network, a San Francisco-based non-profit funding safe drinking water projects around the world. As interest grew in my journey, donations came flooding in and, at the moment, the total stands at over $100,000. I am continuing to raise awareness of the plight of the billions around the world suffering from a lack of safe drinking water, giving talks to groups and organizations around the US. This World Water Day (March 22, 2011) I'll be announcing my next adventure in hopes to spread the message you don’t have to be extraordinary to achieve incredible things and that every drop in the bucket counts.