Contact: Mat Steinlin, Ben Odom
Email: team@row4hope.com
Phone: (512) 671-0764
Jacksonville, FL, March 27th, 2020 – The Jacksonville-based ocean rowing crew, “Team Praetoarian,” who will be competing in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, release the following statement about a change in date for their participation in the race:
Team Praetoarian have been reflecting on recent changes in sponsorship commitments, travel-related training restrictions, and fundraising event cancellations in order to determine how to adapt to these obstacles. We have decided that the best course of action for all of our campaign stakeholders is to delay participation in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge to the December 2021 event. Our registration on the Atlantic Campaigns site and our social media will reflect this change. In addition to changing our race date, we are taking the opportunity to officially change our team name to match the charitable organization we founded to support the campaign: Row4Hope. This will be reflected in our registration and in our social media channels as well.
One of the central goals in our campaign is to raise awareness and funds for Make-a-Wish Foundation of Central and Northern Florida. Delaying our race date and extending our fundraising schedule will allow our team to ensure that we have the best possible chance of success in fundraising for our partners and children served by Make-a-Wish Foundation.
We do not take this decision lightly: we have carefully considered the impact to our team, our families, and our generous donors who have remained committed to helping us create this experience. We are confident that this delay will allow us to best honor all stakeholders with a successful continued campaign in the year to come, with even greater preparation, training, and partnership. While we will certainly miss the opportunity to row the ocean in 2020 with cherished friends in the 2020 Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge fleet, we will continue to be advocates for those teams competing in 2020, partnering where we can to help ensure their success as well.
Today more than ever, global community and partnership is vital to our shared success. We sincerely thank all of our partners who have taken part in our journey thus far, and look forward to a successful year to come for all who strive for excellence in this sport.
Ben Odom and Mat Steinlin
