Paul Lore is a part of an international team of rowers who, in June, will row the Pacific Ocean from California to Hawaii in order to raise money and awareness for two important causes: the Children's Tumor Foundation and K9s For Warriors. Paul shared with us how he got connected to CTF and how one prepares to rown 2,800 nautical miles!
Tell us about the event in June – what is it? how long is it? who is participating?
On June 12, 2023, Team Ohana, an International team of Ocean Rowers from the United States, Switzerland, and Netherlands, will row 2,800 nautical miles from Monterey, California to Hanalei Bay, Kauai for the Children’s Tumor Foundation. Team Ohana is participating in the 2023 Pacific Challenge and estimates a 40-48 day adventure across the Mid-Pacific Ocean. The team is hoping to arrive in Kauai the last week of July 2023.
What is your connection to NF? Why did you pick CTF as a beneficiary?
The Team’s Skipper Paul Lore resides on Amelia Island in Fernandina Beach, Florida and is very dear friends with Michele Holbrook who has lived with NF her entire life and is also the 2023 NF Ambassador and who is taking on a 200-300 mile row challenge herself to support ending NF.
For me, NF is closely aligned with Veteran PTSD in that most of the wounds of NF is not visible. Our Team Goal is to not only raise $500,000 for CTF medical research but to also make NF Visible to everyone.
What else are you working on to raise NF awareness?
Once I come back from the Mid-Pacific Row to Hawaii, I will allow my body to reset and then I will continue to prepare our 2023 NF Ambassador Michele Holbrook for her 200-300 row journey along our East Coast waters of Florida.
How did you get into rowing? What is the training like?
I learned to row back in 2020, when I was preparing to row across the Atlantic Ocean from La Gomera to Antigua to help in the fight to end veteran suicide. In short, I owe all my row experience to Jason Cottiningham, Jacksonville University and my three Veteran Brothers who I rowed across the Atlantic Ocean in 2021. Training to row an Ocean took almost three-years and a lot of CrossFit and erg training.
Is there anything else that you want to share?
On June 12, 2023, I will leave Monterey, California and I will row with a Full Heart.
