Charting a New Course
Bryan Fuller’s Transatlantic Row for Veterans
Valentine’s Day for internal auditor Bryan Fuller is going to be unlike any other as he will be starting his maiden row across the Atlantic Ocean. Launching off the coast of Morocco, Bryan and his six fellow crew members will be rowing 2,600 nautical miles for more than a month as they look to break the existing 32 day record for a transatlantic journey. For Bryan, the record-breaking goal is just a part of the bigger mission he is on to bring attention to an organization that is very dear to him, Community Rowing, Inc. (CRI), a non-profit boat house on the Charles River that teaches military members and veterans how to row. “Serving my country was something I always wanted to do. I walked away with friends for a life time; from war zones and now from the CRI,” said Bryan.
Bryan Fuller
Tour of Duty – Abroad and at Home
Bryan is also known as Sergeant Fuller, having served in the Army from 1994-1999 as a highly trained counterintelligence agent. He had top secret clearance to collect data on terrorist and spies running high profile operations while stationed in Bosnia and Germany. The wealth of experience and responsibility Bryan garnered during his tour of duty didn’t completely prepare him for the transition back into civilian life. The storybook hero’s welcome was short lived and Bryan found himself in the middle of another battle to survive at home. “When I left the Army, I was 29, a college graduate, healthy, fit and only suffered a few of the horrors of war from repeated deployments. Yet, when I came home, I was living in a flophouse and working at a hamburger joint for $30 a shift – I was barely making it,” said Bryan.
He considers himself to be one of the lucky ones and has dedicated his life to helping his fellow veteran with this transition that has quietly claimed the American dream of some of our military heroes. “For many of us it is hard to overcome the lack of structure, organization, teamwork and purpose we had with the military. I came home to a changed world where friends had married and moved on with their families and careers. It can be difficult to integrate back into their lives and it can be a struggle to find a place where you belong,” added Bryan.
The CRI
Rowing was an accidental infatuation for Bryan. During a busy day at the gym the only apparatus available was the rowing machine. He rowed for an hour and was hooked. Within a week, he was shopping for his very own rowing machine. He signed up for his first indoor rowing competition and that is where he learned of a Military Veteran’s Rowing program with CRI. “It was kismet – I was back amongst my own. We were up at 5 a.m. and organized into groups for a mission of rowing on the Charles. Once I learned of their advanced programs for helping paraplegic veterans row I resigned myself to doing all I can to make sure my brethren know of this amazing group,” said Bryan.
CRI has the world’s largest community rowing program with roughly 2,000 members located on the Charles River in Brighton, Massachusetts. They are able to help those with disabilities through an adaptive rowing program which works with their individual needs. They train many athletes to compete in the Paralympics. “So many disabled veterans struggle with life after a severe injury. Within a blink of an eye, many go from being in peak fitness to dealing with new challenges associated with normal daily functions we all take for granted. This can create a feeling of helplessness and lacking a purpose. Programs like this can give them a renewed sense of hope and can be a lifeline for those who have exited the military,” added Bryan.
The Challenge
When the opportunity arose to join a team to attempt to break the rowing record for crossing the Atlantic Ocean, Bryan was all for it. The Woodvale Challenge has already received international attention in Europe and is building attention in the U.S. Bryan is using this event as a springboard to highlight his passion for CRI and the Military Veteran’s Rowing Program.
He is expecting to row 15 hours a day in an effort to arrive in Barbados in 31 days or less. Preparation to take on such a physical feat includes rowing 2 to 5 hours a day with extended rows building up to race day. Bryan is on Team Titan, which consists of seven rowers who are anticipating staggering each of their own row and rest time to account for each hour.
Bryan will be spending a lot of time in their new, state of the art, carbon-fiber row boat. It is designed for speed and slumber. It has two small storage bins at each end and a space under the floor to sleep. They will also be dining on freeze-dried foods, power bars and desalinated water mixed with flavor packets. And when nature calls – well, let’s just say Bryan will have a very spacious facility. “I have been asked many questions when people hear about my row. They tend to skew toward making sure I have planned for every contingency, catastrophe and shark attack. Very few have asked what I am looking forward to on this trip and it is quite simply, the amazing stars, sunset, and camaraderie,” Bryan said.
Apart of the challenge leading up to the race is fundraising. Bryan and his team have been seeking sponsorships from corporations and donations from friends and family. The money raised only covers the costs associated with the boat and Bryan will be on the hook for travel, hotels and food during his travels. To learn more about this you can follow Bryan’s Transatlantic Journey for Veterans on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bryanrowsanocean or www.titanrow.com.
For more information about the Military Veteran’s Rowing program, visit CRI’s website at: https://www.communityrowing.org.
Atlantic Challenge
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