A LONG WAY 4 Water

A Long Way 4 Water is the latest adventure led by Katie Spotz, world record-holder, endurance athlete, and charitable ambassador.

In 2010, Katie set the world record as the youngest person ever to row across the Atlantic Ocean after 70-days alone at sea. Her Row for Water helped 10,000 people get clean drinking water. A Long Way 4 Water is the continuation of the Row for Water journey, cycling across South America from Atlantic Ocean to Amazon River.

The journey will take roughly 2-3 weeks to complete, covering approximately 900 miles by human-power alone from the Atlantic coast of Georgetown, Guyana to the Amazon River in Manaus, Brazil this October 2023.

Why? This journey is more than an adventure; it’s an opportunity to raise funds for a clean water and sanitation projects. One in ten people, right now, are without clean water and sanitation and the goal is to raise $30,000 and help 3,000 people gain access to clean water in support of the Ugandan Water Project.

A Long Way 4 Water will mark Katie’s 11th endurance challenge for clean, safe water. Each pedal stroke Katie makes will be one step closer to a world where everyone, everywhere has access to clean water.

Bike route

  • 900 miles

  • 2 Countries

  • 2-3 weeks

DONE: ROwing the atlantic

Katie Spotz completed the first stage of the journey, rowing 3,000 miles solo across the Atlantic Ocean, becoming the youngest person to do it and only American to row solo from Africa to South America.

next leg: Cycling 900-miles across south america

The next leg of the journey is by bicycle across South America — 900-miles from the Atlantic Coast in Guyana to the Amazon River in Brazil.

Tentative Start Date: October 2023

 

Message from Erden Eruç, 18 x GWR holder including 1st to complete a solo circumnavigation of the world by human power and 1st to row the three oceans: Atlantic, Pacific and Indian

I first met Katie Spotz in person when she first visited Seattle to give a presentation about her row across the Atlantic Ocean. I was aware of her cause to bring clean water to underprivileged communities.

During my own journeys, I had seen firsthand how lack of water impacted the lives of children in Papua New Guinea and in Mozambique, who were often burdened with the task of fetching drinking water from great distances. Done on foot typically pushing a loaded bicycle, this stole productive time from their lives that would have been better used learning or doing homework. Children unattended as such were vulnerable, boys included. Simple lack of water in their homes created one of the circumstances which perpetuated the cycle of intergenerational poverty. What Katie offered such communities was hope.

Katie's continued dedication to her cause inspires me. She will no doubt carry on with the immense challenge to complete a circumnavigation by human power as she has already tested herself against the elements. May she flow like water to her next destination.

 
 

Meet our charity partner Ugandan Water Project

Chances are you turn on a tap everyday and water comes out. Clean. Yet there are nearly a billion people on our planet without access to safe water to drink. 

Millions of children spend their day walking for hours to collect water instead of going to school. Additionally, frequent upset stomachs and diarrhea from the polluted water cause them to miss even more class and eventually drop out of school.

Water changes everything. Clean water gives children the opportunity to attend school and get an education. With education, communities are able to raise up strong leaders, making it possible to break the cycle of poverty and allowing future generations to improve their quality of life.

 

support the cause

Sponsor Miles, by giving $10 per mile. 100% goes to the charity.

Match Miles, by cycling, kayaking, rowing, running, swimming, walking, or hiking miles. Pledge $10 per mile. 100% goes to the charity.

media assets

For media inquires, please email ALongWay4Water@gmail.com.

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