Row4Autism Increases Awareness

An avid hiker, recreational paddler and sports fisherman, John Carinha has always had a love for adventure and challenge. He’s climbed and stood atop Washington States three highest peaks, participated in triathlons, marathons and Grand Fondo’s. Being active is religion, and it’s engrained in his day to day life. Row4Autism was created by Carinha through the inspiration of his son Brandon.

Sandwiched between an older sister and younger brother, Brandon was diagnosed with autism in 2008. The challenges brought on with autism for him, there is no manual for…there is no magic pill…and there is no present day cure. Deemed high functioning, his autism revolves around difficulty with behavioural and social related situations and interactions.

Row4Autism involves coupling adventure with an awareness campaign to support recreational community initiatives to benefit individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The expedition will entail rowing solo and unsupported around Vancouver Island in its entirety, a distance of 1,100km, this June 2014.

Funds raised by this expedition will be directed towards the Canuck Autism Network (CAN) and Autism Community Training (ACT). CAN and ACT, B.C.’s two most active provincial autism organizations, are collaborating to promote training in autism to enable children with ASD to being included in recreational activities wherever they live.  Donations will enable the preparation of free online learning resources aimed at community recreation coaches and instructors, and PE teachers, looking for creative and fun ways to teach sports and recreation skills to the nearly 10,000 children with autism in B.C. and promote their social integration with their peers.

The boat is an Angus Rowboats design, adeptly named the Expedition. Simply termed a rowboat, it resembles an expedition style kayak, but one that is rowed, not paddled. It is constructed of Okoume marine grade plywood with 1/8″ side panels and decks and ¼” frames and bottom panels.  The entire boat was built from approximately six 4ft by 8ft sheets using stitch and glue build methods.

For more information and to donate visit: http://proceansports.wordpress.com/