Paraplegic in epic voyage for third world kids

by Around Australia Challenge media on 2 May 2005 In 2001 at the age of 43, West Australian Mike Rowney had it all; he was an experienced ocean-going skipper with good health, good looks and a fabulous new yacht which he planned to charter out in the Greek Islands.

Life looked pretty fantastic, but then disaster struck. Through a tragic accident, Rowney broke his back and overnight, his life and his dreams were shattered.

Becoming a paraplegic confined to a wheelchair, with no insurance, no compensation and no income, Rowney had to sell his beautiful yacht to pay his medical expenses

What would you do? Give up? Hide away? Rowney, however, grabbed at life with both hands, turning personal tragedy into an amazing opportunity to help others while doing what he loves.

After several operations, including one to remove steel rods from his back and many painful months in rehabilitation, Rowney got right back into sailing as soon as he was physically able.

In 2003, only two years after his accident, he scraped together enough money to buy a 20-year old, 26-foot Swedish ‘folk boat’ called Gypsy Rose. Most of the money was given to him by his new and incredibly generous friends in Greece and was supplemented by his meagre superannuation policy and personal savings.

Since that time, Rowney has refitted and modified the yacht with a number of innovative design features so that he can sail her without the use of his legs.

On Saturday, April 30, Rowney and Gypsy Rose were due to set out from Fremantle in Western Australia, on a brave and lonely voyage of over 7000 nautical miles to circumnavigate the Australian continent, although he will head off in tandem with the Variety West Coast Splash Yacht Rally fleet, but then make his way to Broome, Darwin, Cairns and ports in between, alone.

Why? To raise funds and awareness for the thousands of children in third-world countries who desperately need a wheelchair but cannot afford to buy one.

However, winds picked up considerably 9up to 50 knots was forecast), so the Variety fleet, including Mike, decided to stay at Mindarie Keys, with a new leaving time of today.

The Project

THE AROUND AUSTRALIA CHALLENGE is a unique venture by a unique guy. Through his remarkable voyage, Mike hopes to raise enough money to provide wheelchairs for hundreds of disabled children. All money raised will go to Wheelchairs for Kids – www.wheelchairsforkids.org – a project of the Rotary Club of Scarborough (Perth), Western Australia.

Four mornings a week, up to 50 volunteers ranging in age from 18 to 80 make up the chairs – they’ve produced 3000+ over the past five years which have been sent to children in such countries as Zambia, East Timor and Indonesia. The volunteers are keen to make more chairs – all they need is the funding.

Mike is based in Perth, Western Australia. He will set off from Fremantle and head north with the Variety West Coast Splash Yacht Rally and then make his way to Broome, Darwin, Cairns and ports in between.

He plans short runs down the east coast because of the unfavourable head winds, but due to the frequent stops, he will have plenty of time for public presentations or interviews and welcomes speaking invitations by groups or clubs.

Rowney is planning an extended stop in Sydney, will sail on to Launceston and Melbourne, then begin heading home via Adelaide, the Great Australian Bight, Esperance and Albany.

He will sail around Cape Leeuwin to Bunbury, and finally return home to Fremantle. The journey could take up to 12 months, depending on weather conditions.

How You Can Help

Several organisations* have donated goods, equipment, services and financial support to THE AROUND AUSTRALIA CHALLENGE.

You can be a part of this unique project, too. If you’re inspired by Mike’s courage and commitment, please make a donation to Wheelchairs for Kids. Every dollar helps. Simply visit Mike’s website www.aroundaustraliachallenge.org and download the Donation Form. Or post a contribution – however small - to:

Around Australia Challenge Trust Account
Wheelchairs for Kids (W4K)
c/o Julie Loader
PO Box 378
South Perth, Western Australia, 6951
Australia.

Donations are tax deductible and you will receive a receipt. You will also give huge smiles to some young, disabled and disadvantaged children in a faraway place whose lives you will change forever.

Mike is also seeking a major sponsor to fund the trip – he is currently paying for it from his savings. If you know someone who’d like to be involved, please ask them to get in touch!

*Sponsors to date include Allyacht Spars Australia, Australian Geographic Society , BLA Boating's Leading Accessories, Boating Hardware Pro Sail, Challenge Stadium, Chameleon Creative, Costing and Logistics Systems, Extreme Sails and Canvas, Fibreglass Resin and Sales, Fleming Self Steering Systems, Global Gypsies; Mainpeak Australia, Mobi-lert Crew Monitoring Man Overboard Alert System; Netpaver eBusiness Solutions, OUTbacker Communications, Power Dive, Rainbow Power Company, Raymarine Marine Electronics, RFD Marine and Aerospace Systems, Ronstan Marine, Marlow Ropes, Royal Perth Yacht Club, Turtle Pac Tanks.

For sponsorship details please contact Jan Barrie at Global Gypsies, phone: 0417 913 071 or email: info@globalgypsies.com.au


All details: www.aroundaustraliachallenge.org