…his mission: an awareness Campaign to End Polio Now

Álvaro de Marichalar

The End Polio Now Campaign is being carried out by mariners and Rotarians as well as by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The campaign is designed to bring awareness to the disease as well as to highlight the efforts to eradicate the illness. When he docks in Panama, Álvaro de Marichalar, who is also a Rotarian, will hold several fundraisers to assist with financing of the campaign.  Today, he also spoke of the risks to his life in this expedition, his passion for the ocean and the exposure provided to the countries where he makes a stop.

Álvaro de Marichalar, Adventurer

“For the past thirty-one years. This is my fortieth expedition, my number forty. I’ve been doing that since I was eighteen and that’s my favorite sports and my preferred way of navigating and I really, really like it. Of course I do it a month or two every year because I have to work at my company. I life in Moscow, Russia and I cannot do that all year around, but every year I do a month or a month and a half of these kinds of expeditions.  Every expedition has a different charity. Like last expedition was made in April coinciding with the fifth centennial of the discovery of Florida also…this year is the European Discovery of Florida and European Discovery of the Pacific Ocean.  For sure there is risk there. I’m doing that since 1982. I know about the ocean. Every year I respect more the ocean because I know her better, but I am putting my life in risk because I love what I do, I love the experience; I need to be out there. I love the message I want to share especially with young people, especially to try to convince people to overcome fear to be strong enough to fight for their dreams and their goals in their family, at their studies, in their companies, their jobs, their professions; all over whatever they do. I like to share all what it means to put these flags together—Belize flag and Spanish flags together. For me it is important to bring the symbol of two nations together and bring people, religions, cultures, races together by these expeditions.  In this journey I am doing a documentary and filming for national geographic channel and other TV channels worldwide and that is why I am very happy to be here because Belize will be promoted and people will understand that this country is a beautiful place to come. I have filmed already yesterday and I will film today when I depart, all the coastline so that we can show this marvelous country to the rest of the world. Also I will write a book and express all that I see, all that I feel and everything that I am witness of.”

Marichalar’s ten stops include: the coasts of U.S.A., Cuba, Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama and Colombia. According to Marichalar, his journey to Panama should be completed in twelve nautical days, by January ninth.