Irish Amputee Successfully Completes World Record
Howard Lake | 30 July 2006 | News
An amputee has successfully completed the fundraising challenge of a lifetime by becoming the first person to circumnavigate the Irish coast on a jet-ski. Matt Browne’s efforts will raise around ‚€100,000 for the Rehab Foundation.
The epic 19-day, 1,000 mile journey, which began in Howth on 25th June, is all the more remarkable not only because it sets a new world record, but it comes just six years after the Kildare man lost a leg to diabetes.
I’m totally exhausted and every muscle is aching, but I’m thrilled to be on my way home, says Matt. At times the sea conditions have been very choppy and it was tough going. On two occasions waves hit me with such force that my goggles were taken off my head and washed overboard!
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Matt hopes that the Round Ireland Jet-Ski challenge, which was sponsored by Corona Extra and Top Oil, will raise over ‚€100,000 for Rehab Group services nationwide. A packed schedule of fundraising events ensured that Matt was welcomed at coastal villages and towns along the way.
Without doubt, the highlight of the trip has been the opportunity to meet so many people who came out to welcome me to their local area, and to show their support for Rehab. It was lovely to arrive ashore after spending hours on a jet-ski and to have so many people waiting to greet me.
Over the years Matt has developed a reputation for his unique approach to fundraising and he is no stranger to taking to the high seas on a jet-ski having successfully completed a 250 mile round-trip across the Irish sea last year, raising over ‚€30,000 for Rehab. Matt has also organised Ireland’s first Sheep Steeplechase Race, which raised funds to send four year-old Conor Leigh to America for specialist ear reconstruction surgery. Other high profile events have included the popular Thorny Rose competition – a male alternative to the Rose of Tralee – and a 750-mile bus reverse around Ireland.
About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale.
He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.