After a grueling 50 days at sea, the NOMAN Great Pacific Rowers arrived in Hawaii on 29 July, breaking the world record as the youngest crew to ever cross the Pacific Ocean!
HPV Action is incredibly proud of these 24-year-old men who tested their courage, strength and mental stamina to raise awareness about the lives affected by HPV and our opportunity that now exists to end this carcinogen through vaccinatig.
Following their departure from California, bad weather and unfavorable winds initially pushed the NOMEN miles off course. At night, the men were unable to see the 20 foot waves they were navigating and howling gales prevented conversation. Picking up the trade winds just before the halfway point, their pace across the
Pacific eventually increased, helping secure their position in the race!. Along the way, they were hit, literally, by unwanted stowaways in the form of flying fish who took a bath in the watermaker.
NOMAN Nick Kempster said, “This challenge has been immense and at times it felt like we might not be able to complete it, but everyone’s support and messages (ranging from the outright funny to those who merely thought they were funny) as well as our ultimate aim of raising awareness of HPV, have kept us going even when we didn’t think we could give anymore. Somehow we always found the strength to keep rowing."
In what has been a big week for HPV awareness, our campaign to provide equal access to HPV protection for both boys and girls is gaining momentum. Leading doctors in the United Kingdom published an editorial and personal view yesterday in The BMJ supporting HPV protection for boys through vaccination. The BMJ articles were also reported on in the Guardian.
HPV Action is incredibly proud of these 24-year-old men who tested their courage, strength and mental stamina to raise awareness about the lives affected by HPV and our opportunity that now exists to end this carcinogen through vaccinatig.
Following their departure from California, bad weather and unfavorable winds initially pushed the NOMEN miles off course. At night, the men were unable to see the 20 foot waves they were navigating and howling gales prevented conversation. Picking up the trade winds just before the halfway point, their pace across the
Pacific eventually increased, helping secure their position in the race!. Along the way, they were hit, literally, by unwanted stowaways in the form of flying fish who took a bath in the watermaker.
NOMAN Nick Kempster said, “This challenge has been immense and at times it felt like we might not be able to complete it, but everyone’s support and messages (ranging from the outright funny to those who merely thought they were funny) as well as our ultimate aim of raising awareness of HPV, have kept us going even when we didn’t think we could give anymore. Somehow we always found the strength to keep rowing."
In what has been a big week for HPV awareness, our campaign to provide equal access to HPV protection for both boys and girls is gaining momentum. Leading doctors in the United Kingdom published an editorial and personal view yesterday in The BMJ supporting HPV protection for boys through vaccination. The BMJ articles were also reported on in the Guardian.