Irish ocean rower Dr Karen Weekes is appealing to young women who are planning an adventure in the next year to seek support from her campaign.
Weekes, who is the first Irish woman to row solo across any ocean, is also seeking anyone who was inspired by her row to participate in a documentary she is making.
As Weekes explains, her row as part of the #shecando2021 campaign raised funds for the RNLI and Laura Lynn Foundation.
The campaign work continues to inspire women’s participation in sport and adventure activities.
It now aims to provide support to a woman between the ages of 18 and 26 who is planning an adventure within the next year.
Weekes, who rowed into Barbados on February 24th, spent almost 81 days at sea on her 3,000 nautical mile transit from the Canaries.
The Munster Technological University lecturer has cycled solo and unsupported 6,440 km( 4,000 miles) across Canada, through Alaska and the Yukon.
She spent time on the world’s second-highest mountain, K2, to interview mountaineers for her PhD research.
Along with Orla Knight, a physical education teacher at Castletroy College in Co Limerick, she cycled across North America from San Francisco to Washington DC.
With Suzanne Kennedy, who was her project manager for the Atlantic row, she circumnavigated Ireland by kayak several decades ago.
The two women set a record for the first such paddle around the island at the time. Weekes has also kayaked the length of the Croatian coast, and around the Lofoten islands off Norway.
Her sailing experience is considerable, having crossed the Atlantic twice, sailed north from Mexico to California, and cruised waters off the east Australian coast.
Details of the initiative to support a young female adventurer are outlined by Weekes here
Separately, #shecando2021 followers who were inspired by the row and campaign and who might be interested in being part of the documentary are asked to contact the campaign. Weekes’s “shout out” for her documentary is here
Weekes is founder and organiser of the Kinvara Adventure Talks series and will give the first talk of this season on November 3rd in Kinvara Community Hall in Co Galway.
Further talks will be given in Tully’s Bar, Kinvara, by Brian Mac Coitir of the Irish Cave Rescue Organisation (November 10th) and mountaineers and adventurers Joan Dineen (November 17th) and Mick Murphy (November 24th).
#shecando2021 can be contacted at https://shecando2021.org/ and email [email protected]
