Four Rowers Raise Awareness for Parkinson’s Disease on 69-Day Journey

In a celebration at the Grand Baie Yacht Club late Friday, the spirit of human determination and compassion soared to new heights as four rowers were welcomed with open arms. Their extraordinary feat? Conquering the vastness of the Indian Ocean, embarking on a daring 3200 nautical miles voyage that began on May 11, 2023, all the way from the shores of Australia.

Christian Cleghorn, Steven Easter, Ben Mann, and Alan Huntly displayed resilience and perseverance throughout their 69-day expedition. Their vessel, the 29-foot “Goldie,” navigated the vast seas with nothing but the sheer strength of oars covering an astounding 3200 nautical miles from Geraldton, Western Australia.

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive, degenerative, neurological condition that affects a person’s control of their body movements. In Australia, it affects 100,000 people with 38 people being diagnosed every day.

The event also included a presentation of a food donation from members of the crew to Caritas Night shelter.

The crew are part of an increasing number of Australians who are choosing to holiday in Mauritius, with numbers rebounding firmly since the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Australia’s Charge d’Affaires, Keara Shaw, who attended the welcome event, said: “This expedition represents an inspiring effort for a commendable cause. It has helped raise awareness of Parkinson’s disease. And for Australians, it has also reminded them of beautiful Mauritius, our fellow Indian island nation. Hopefully we will continue to see many more arrivals from Australia, but talking advantage of the direct flight from Perth, rather than such an arduous journey!”

Speaking at the event, the Director of the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority, Arvind Bundhun said: “It is such a privilege for Mauritius to welcome the Indi Row 23. This race will not only promote our visibility on the Australian market but it will also help us to maintain our position as a centre for sports tourism in the region.”

Reflecting on their experience and their successful crossing, the crew of Goldie said: “Indi Row 23 rowing team and our support crew would like to sincerely thank the Mauritian Government, the National Coast Guard and the Mauritian people for the warm welcome we received when we arrived at the beautiful island Mauritius. The Grand Baie Yacht Club have been incredibly helpful and we would like to thank them too for their support. We are looking forward to exploring the island and plan to return, but next time we will definitely be travelling by plane!”

Source: Australian High Commission