(GayWebSource.com – Gay News & Press Network) – Posted by Jake Simpson – TheGayUK.com
Four Men, all aged 24, will be ROWING from California To Hawaii a 2400 mile journey to raise awareness for HPV and Anal Cancers.
by Newsdesk | 14th April 2014
Nick, Jack, Mark and Chris will be braving the Pacific Ocean, shark-infested waters, extreme weather conditions and FORTY days at sea in a sail less boat, in order to complete a challenge that will see them row 2400 miles from California to Hawaii.
The foursome have been training for over a year now and has rowed an incredible14,672 kms or 1,056,384 strokes to gear up for the massive task ahead.
The crew will set off from Monterrey Bay, California on the 7th June.
‘We’ve been planning and preparing for this row for over a year now. In fact it was one year and six days ago today that a mysterious and intriguing email arrived in my inbox from Nick; the premise – to try to make a real difference by doing something extraordinary.’ said NOMAN Jack
The race distance is the same as:
11 River Thames
89 Marathons
1,878 Olympic Rowing Finals
11,593 Eiffel Towers
13,964 Titanic’s
341,474 London Buses
Almost 1,000 miles longer than Argentina
Over twice the distance from London to Madrid
At full pace, it would take Usain Bolt over four days and four hours to run.
At world record pace, it would take Michael Phelps 21 days, 14 hours and 24 minutes to swim butterfly.
The crew who are calling themselves ‘NOMAN’ are not just racing though; they are raising awareness and resources to end HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) and the related cancers that currently exist in both men and women.
HPV CAUSES 90% OF ANAL CANCERS
Most people will contract HPV in their lifetime and clear the virus. But for some people, HPV becomes a cause of cancer—such as cervical, anal, penile, vulval, head, neck and throat cancer – and genital warts.
HPV is the cause in 5% of all human cancers. Among cancers affecting men, it is estimated that HPV infection is associated with up to 90% of anal cancers, 60% of penile cancers, and 75% of tonsillar and base-of-tongue cancers with each of these cancers having increased in incidence over the past two decades. In addition, it accounts for 40,392 new cases of genital warts found in men in 2012, a 15% increase since 2003.
There are around 299 deaths a year from anal cancer and 2056 deaths per year from oral cancer.
HPV Action estimates it would cost £24milliona year to vaccinate UK boys. Last year leading sexual health charity GMFA called on the governement to provide the HPV Jab for 357,000 Secondary School aged boys.
CRAMPED CONDITIONS
The NOMEN will be leaving behind all creature comforts for 40 days whilst at sea. Their sail-less boat, Isabell, offers little protection against the ravages that the crew may face. The boat has limited washing and cooking facilities and a sleeping space for four crew members that is only the size of a single bed, spooning will be the order of the day for this close-knit 4.
Last year an inaugural event, teams of NOMEN rowed from Barcelona to Ibiza raising over $1m.
You can support our NOMEN in their incredible world record-breaking attempts at:
www.facebook.com/NoManCampaign
www.instagram.com/nomancampaign
www.youtube.com/user/nomancampaign
Sign the petition to extend vaccination to boys: www.change.org/petitions/jeremy-hunt-uk-health-secretary-introduce-hpv-vaccination-for-boys-to-stop-many-preventable-cancers-3
NOMAN is the endurance and fundraising arm of the HPV and Anal Cancer Foundation. Justine, Tristan and Camille Almada founded the HPV and Anal Cancer Foundation in July 2010, three months after their mother, Paulette Isabel Crowt
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