One man traverses the US on foot for a cause

8/19/2019 One man traverses the US on foot for a cause

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New York

San Francisco

New York

TO

Don LennoxTranscontinental Challenge 2013


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Who isDon Lennox?

Don Lennox is a 43 year old guy from Glasgow, Scotland. Don Lennox is a

runner. Don Lennox is a rower. Don Lennox is a guy who can’t write his own

bio for fear of feeling narcissistic.

The story of Don is a unique one. He grew up in a home with his mom, dad,

and older brother on the west coast of Scotland in Tighnabruiach, a small

village which looks onto the Isle of Bute. One of Don’s earliest memories is

that of his father saying “there’s no such word as can’t” as he was trying to

climb a painfully high cliff seen in the picture on the right at the age of 4.

Those words have stuck with him throughout his life and has become

somewhat of a personal mantra.

Don was a painfully shy kid who spent his childhood as most other children

do, playing. At the age of 12 he realized that he was stronger and fasterand more dedicated to fitness training than the average 12 year old. Don

played soccer until the age of 17 when he dislocated his knee and was told

that he could never play soccer again and likely never be able to distance

run.

Don spent his early adult life as an engineer and at the old age of 30 he decided

change directions. At 30 years old Don turned his attention to Sports Therapy/Athlet

Training. He helped open and built up a successful gym in Hamilton, Scotland.

At age 39 he jokingly said to his brother “I just want to disappear to the USA” to whic

his brother replied “How are you going to do that”. Don’s answer; “I’ll row there”. Th

comment was made mostly joking but then the next day he found crew member an

friend Leven and over a bottle of whiskey they talked about their plan. 7 months lat

he was given the opportunity to row across the Atlantic in ‘LaMondiale’, a 15m mon

hull boat, with a British and Irish crew looking to break a 16 year old world record f

the ‘Fastest Rowed Crossing of the Atlantic’. The crew rowed the 3100 miles from Gra

Canaria, Canary Islands to Barbados, West Indies in 33 days, and succeeded in taki

2 days off the overall speed record whilst also adding the 'Most Miles Rowed in On

Day' (117 miles) record.

D o n

holder of 5 world records


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There’s more about Don..2010 saw Don take on the most sought after prize in Ocean

Rowing, the North Atlantic. This was a record which had stood for

114 years despite 60 previous attempts to break it. The North route

has notoriously unpredictable bad weather, rescues on suchattempts are common and a few lives had been lost. Don and 3

other crew, Leven Brown from Scotland, Ray Carroll from Ireland

and Livar Nysted from the Faroe Islands set out from Battery Park

NYC in June of 2010 and crossed the Atlantic back to the Scilly

Isles, UK, in a time just shy of 44 days, taking more than 11 days

off the existing world record of 55 days, which had been held by

George Harbo and Frank Samuelsen for over a century. They also

added two other records during their voyage, the 'Most Consecu-

tive 100 miles in a Day' by a four man crew and the 'Most Miles

Rowed in One Day' (118 miles)

Don has been an Ultra Marathon runner for the past 8 years, with personal bests of, 20 hours 4 minutes, for the 96 mile

West Highland Way Race and, 6 hours 27 minutes, for the 43 mile Devil do' the Highlands Footrace. Both are run

through the mountainous Scottish Highlands and are annual events in Scotland's Ultra Running calendar.

It’s pretty clear that Don has done a lot, and he does i t to the max. He has been nominated for the National Geographic

adventurer of the year and the Glenfiddich Spirit of Scotland Award.

Don’s love for his country doesn’t stop with this award. He plans on completing his run across the country wearing a kilt

a beacon of Scottish heritage.

Along side is pride for his home country is his need to help others. Don’s charitable adventures and projects have

earned him a nomination to carry the Olympic Torch as it passes through Scotland.

Let’s Recap this guy is amazing!Became an Athletic Trainer at age 30

Broke the 16 year old world record for ‘Fastest Rowed Crossing of the Atlantic’

Broke the record for ‘Most Miles Rowed in One Day’

Broke the 114 year old world record for ‘North Atlantic Ocean Rowing’ by 11 days

Broke the record for ‘Most Consecutive 100 miles in a Day by a four man crew’

Broke the record for ‘Most Miles Rowed in One Day’

Completed the 96 mile West Highland Way Race

Completed the 43 mile Devil o’ the Highlands footrace


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About the Transcontinental Challenge

Last year Don and his crew of 3 ventured across the NorthAtlantic Ocean in a 23 foot, entirely human powered boat.

This little adventure not only beat the 114 year old World

Record- it smashed it by 11 days, with a time of 43 days

21 hours 26 minutes and 48 seconds.

The Artemis North Atlantic Challenge beat this record

completely unsupported. This meant when the ’Team’

cast off from New York on 17 June 2010 they received no

help from any other vessel or person whatsoever until they

made land at St. Mary's, Scilly Isles.

Part 1 - row across the North Atlantic Ocean

Now begins the second leg of the Challenge.

Don will run the 3,100 miles from San Francisco

to New York, solo and unsupported in just 45

days, that's an average of 68 miles per day (up

to 16 hours a day running and walking!), to

challenge the current world record which stands

at 46 days. The route takes Don through 12

states and some of the harshest terrain and

weather conditions in the USA.

There will be stretches of highway where there

is nothing but wilderness for 2-3 days. In theseareas Don will have to depend on his intuition

and skills to find water, safe places to sleep and

to deal with the wildlife that will undoubtedly be encountered. In the populated areas Don will be asking people to

come and participate in running with me for a few miles to involve them in the fun and social aspect of the event.

Part 2 - run across the United States

Please see www.oceanrowevents.com for the full ocean row information


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New York

San Francisco

New York

TO

the details...

Don will depart at 9:00am August 20th from the San Francisco City Hall and follow the route to be listed. He willarrive in New York city less than 46 days later in an effort to break the current world record held by Frank Giannio.

Don’s completion of this expedition will make him the only Scottish man to complete the task and plans to make that

very clear to spectators by running the distance in a traditional Scottish kilt.

Multiple individuals have offered to run along side Don in his expedition and while there is no specific schedule of

runners, there will be periods where Don will be running with a group of supporters. Don will allow people to stay up

to date with where he will be and who will be accompanying him via his website and social networks.

Completion of this second leg will put Don in an

elite category of only 3 people to have rowed an

ocean and run across a continent.


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Be a part of the challenge

Charity

Don is looking for support!

This age of the internet has made this event something that can reach more people than ever before.

Don will be using Twitter and Facebook and his blog to keep fans and followers up to date at any time. You can trackhis progress, send him messages of encouragement, and even look at pictures and videos of his expedition. You also

will be able to track his actual geographic location via a real-time GPS transmitter on a map.

There are so many inspiring message built in to this adventure, and one of the things that Don stresses is the mes-

sage that “There is no can’t” and you can do what you set out to. The project will also provoke thought, inspirationand confidence amongst other groups of the general public, that ground breaking challenges can indeed be tackled

and achieved. Aside from this event being an act in which children, teens, and adults can look up to Don is attaching

a cause to this event to raise awareness and funds.

The Transcontinental Challenge has a goal to raise awareness and funds for Help for Heroes and Wounded Warriors.

British and American Service Personnel have now served in Afghanistan and Iraq for over a decade. Thousands of

servicemen and women have had to return home to face the painstaking prospect of overcoming life-changing injuries

and disabilities. This expedition intends to raise the level of funds that truly have the ability to change lives of those in

need. The money raised will fund the purchase of much-needed services that will aid the recovery of those most in

need, as well as supporting direct projects and other service charities.

Press/MediaDon is available for and welcomes media inquiries of all kinds. He is available for in person or remote interviews. This

story has something that everyone can relate to. Any press coverage would act as a distributor for his positive mes-

sage.

Previous cross country expeditions have been received with interest by local and nation media from New York Times

to Live with Regis and Kelly and various ESPN shows.

WEB


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Sponsors

Don is still seeking sponsorship for vital race supplies to play a part in bringing this historic expedition fully to life this

autumn. This expedition presents a unique opportunity for both parties.

Don aims to involve and connect communities as diverse as possible throughout the run from California to New York

State. Product promotion will be true and honest which will give the sponsorship an additional level of connection withthe audience. Now more than ever consumers are looking to their peers for recommendations and this expedition will

put me in contact with peers within the fitness community and beyond.

Target Audience

When the thought of running across America is brought up most people immediately conjure up the image of Forest

Gump’s run across America and the wonderful way that run brought people from across the country together. Don has

used social media and traditional media to announce this run to the country and has already received supportive

feedback as well as hordes of professional and amateur runners offering to run along side him on his journey. This

initial outcry of support has shown that the interest in this event is strong not only within the runner’s community but

also is strong within the non-runner community. Sponsors who take part in this expedition via monetary or product

submissions will be able to reach this audience of individuals who are both amateur and professional runners as well

as those who are not runners but become inspired by Don’s expedition and his message to go out and conquer on

their own.

International Promotional Benefits

Sponsorship of Don’s expedition would help reinforce a brand on an international level, highlighting their potential

uses in sporting ventures, expeditions and outdoor pursuits, as well as company support of vital charitable causes.

Advertising and sponsorship benefits can be discussed in detail on an individual basis.

Current Supporting Sponsors


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DON LENNOXATHLETE PUBLIC RELATIONS

[email protected]

LINDSAY BRANSCOMBE

[email protected]

1.203.936.9312

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One man traverses the US on foot for a cause