As you read this, I am on my way to the airport to begin my journey to Portugal from where I will start my Atlantic rowing adventure.

I’ve been working on this for so long that I can barely remember what it was like without having this project in my head.

Today, I’ll meet my team for the first time. Over the next two months, we will be together every single moment, confirmed to a very small space, and working towards the same goal – rowing 6,000km across the Atlantic Ocean.

For two long years, I trained very hard. Now, all that I’ve learnt will be used to help me overcome this huge mental and physical challenge.

Here is how you can follow me:

• Website www.crossrower.ch (or de.crossrower.ch in German) There will be regular visual and text updates on the site
• Track me allows you to see where I am. You can find the tracker on the front page on my website. At the moment, it still has the track form the last row. Ours will be reset shortly
• We’ll also have regular Facebook updates (usually a teaser that re-directs to my site)
• Same for Instagram and to a lesser extent on Twitter, too

Donations can also be done from my website – there are three organizations: Hospice (Malta), the Swiss Cancer League, and Terre des hommes. I’m at around one-third of my goal. All the money sent goes to these organizations. The donations will help me, too, in terms of motivation to row faster.

Determination to succeed

My aim on the row is to follow in my brother’s footsteps. When he found out he had a brain tumor and that it was terminal, he said he would remain positive and fight it all the way. He did so. I hope I have his courage.

This entire adventure is dedicate to him for a good reason – he was a good altruistic person, a fighter with a heart of gold.

I will now face a big challenge, physically and mentally. It’s a big deal, but it is also one which I chose to do. Cancer patients and their families don’t have this choice.

That’s the whole point of this challenge – help the people who are doing their best to make things as comfortable as possible for cancer patients and their families. That’s what my brother would have done.

In two months and a bit, I’ll be back home. I can then return to my normal life. Many cancer patients and their families don’t have this option.

I am also collecting money for Terre des hommes. My chosen project is helping Syrian refugee children in Jordan. I chose to help this organization as I strongly believe children should have the right to enjoy their childhood. Any help you can give them is greatly appreciated.