My name is Alan Lock, a 30 year old former Naval Officer originally from the UK, but now living in California.  In late 2003 I suffered a huge blow when I lost much of my useful sight due to the sudden onset of a degenerative eye condition.  I lost my career, my ability to drive and read, and faced a bleak future.

Rather than folding under this misfortune, I resolved to remain committed to my passion for sports and adventure.  Since my sight loss I have organised and undertaken a series of extreme challenges which have raised tens of thousands of dollars for sight - related charities.  These have included climbing the highest mountains in Europe and Africa, and completing 12 marathons including the 151 mile Marathon des Sables across the Sahara Desert, acknowledged as the world’s toughest foot race.  Most recently, I took on my biggest challenge so far - to become the first visually impaired person in history (and one of only several hundred people ever) to row across the Atlantic Ocean.  My aim was to do this not only for personal achievement, but also to raise money and awareness for a global deaf - blind charity called 'Sense', and hopefully inspire those in a similar position to me.

I organised the project from scratch, and together with my sighted rowing partner, departed from the Canary Islands in January 2008.  After 85 days at sea, facing everything the weather and sea could throw at us, we arrived in Barbados.  The voyage was an epic journey of 2 friends taking on one of the world’s toughest challenges, and surviving.  We had raised over $50000 for the charity, been covered in national and international media, and I had set a new Guinness World record. 

My talk tells the story of our voyage, and aims to be both entertaining and inspirational.  Essentially, it is the story of how a person can, with a combination of determination and heart, overcome any challenge and still pursue their dreams.

I have given corporate and charity talks to audiences in excess of 500 people, and have slide shows of various lengths if required.  My website for the row is atwww.atlanticrow4sense.com.

 I would be delighted to give further information as needed.

Adventure