Man rows up Atlantic Coast for charity

HAULOVER BEACH, Fla. (WSVN) -- A 24-year-old Brit man is rowing from Miami to New York City to raise awareness for a disease.

"I'm planning on rowing 14,000 miles up the East Coast of America," said Lewis Colam.

Colam has no rowing experience and no compass but believes he will have a successful trip.

"I'm doing it for a great cause and I've got the support of loads of people," he said, "so I have got no doubt that I will make it."

Colam left his job across the pond to row solo from Miami to New York City all to raise awareness for Alzheimer's disease.

"I've teamed up with a company called, "I Am Fine" and together we are trying to raise $20,000," he said.

Colam's grandmother succumbed to Alzheimer's and her death is his motivation.

"Someone close to me was affected by it and I saw the affects it had," he said, "and I thought wouldn't it be great to team up with a "I Am Fine" and try to raise as much money for the cause as possible."

Colam has been preparing for the trip, packing all the essentials in a custom-made 15-foot row boat.

He plans to row for up to 18 hours a day. His journey began on Saturday.

"I'm not a natural rower. I've never rowed more than two miles," said Colam. "I'm not like a rower but I thought rowing was a nice thing to do and America is a nice place to do it."

However, all the planning in the world can't keep nerves at bay.

"My legs are all over the place. I feel a little ill at the moment," said Colam. "I don't have any qualifications but I do have a life jacket so I'm hoping nothing bad happens."

The novice adventurer plans to make his way north to the Big Apple by traveling between open Atlantic waters and the Intracoastal Waterway.

He will of course squeeze some rest in between.

"I'm going to have to stop pretty much every day, because I've got enough food and water just for about 24 hours."

With $1,000 dollars already donated, Colam's trip should be smooth sailing from here on out.

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