Maltese child cancer survivor to row the Atlantic
When Thomas Cremona was four years old his mother noticed that he was bruising easily and tests revealed he had leukaemia, leading to months of treatment.
Now, aged 22, the young man is free from the illness that shook his childhood and will be rowing 5,000 kilometres across the Atlantic to prove there is life beyond cancer.
“I don’t have many memories of those days when I was sick. But, as I grew older, I started appreciating life more and decided that I want to do something to show there is life beyond cancer and you can reach for your goals,” Mr Cremona said enthusiastically.
The young athlete will form part of a group of six rowers, from various countries, who aim to break the mid-Atlantic rowing speed record which currently stands at 33 days, seven hours and 30 minutes.
The team will row the Sara G, an 11.1 metre-long boat, from Morocco to Barbados next January.
“If we manage in 33 days, seven hours and 29 minutes it will be great,” he smiled adding he hopes to be the first Maltese person to row across the Atlantic.
Mr Cremona has also embarked on his personal Row for Cancer campaign and will be rowing to raise money for Puttinu Cares Children’s Cancer Foundation that helps children get through the experience he went through as a child.
When he was four he was diagnosed with leukaemia and spent about four weeks in hospital followed by nine months of chemotherapy.
He remembers being at St Luke’s Hospital for a long time and nurses and doctors were “all very nice” – which is why he values the important role of Puttinu Cares.
“I remember my sister coming to see me, all covered in a large gown, so no bacteria came in,” he recalled with a giggle.
Now Mr Cremona is free of cancer but the experience left him with a strong respect for life.
“Now, when I look at life I’m more appreciative of the time I have. I hate waiting and want to achieve my goals as soon as possible and don’t want to take any chances,” he said. This passion for life led him to like athletics and sports and, when he was 18, he took up mountain-biking and took park in the Lifecycle challenge.
“It was an amazing experience. A real eye opener about what the body can do and, more importantly, what the mind can do,” he said adding he has since taken part in several marathons including the swim between Malta and Gozo last year.
His experience on the Sara G will be his first rowing challenge for which he had been training regularly at the gym. This week he will be going to the UK to train with the rest of the team in the hope of breaking the record.
Come January, they will be travelling to the south of Morocco to start rowing. The six members will be divided into two teams that will take turns rowing every two hours. Corporate sponsors will help Mr Cremona cover the costs of the trip.
Mr Cremona will have a blog on timesofmalta.com and more details can be seen on his website www.oceanrowmalta.com.
Anyone who wishes to donate money to Puttinu Cares can do so by sending a text message to 50617380 to give €2.33, 50618939 for €6.99 and 50619225 for €11.65 or can phone 50049543 to give €7.00, 50049545 for €11.00 and 50049540 for €23.00.
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32 Comments
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Marco Cremona
Dec 16th 2010, 23:34
What this young man has already achieved in life, and what he is attempting to achieve for a just cause should be an inspiration to us all.
I wish him the best of luck in breaking the record, but breaking a record is not the most important factor. He may have all it takes to break the record, but that may not be completely within his control. Nature was its ways, and it is foolhardy to challenge nature.
What I hope for him is to seek into his inner mental and physical strength and give it his very best; whichever way it goes he will end up a better man... and through his actions we will have a better world and a source of positivity that only such altruistic and courageous initiatives can bring forth.
Marco Cremona
Team Member
Everest Challenge8000 Team
Mervyn Borg
Sep 21st 2010, 21:53
Good luck Thomas!!
You'll succeed doing this as well.
T. Toscano
Sep 21st 2010, 19:21
Good luck Thomas. I'm sure once again you'll make your parents so proud of you.
Ed Dingli
Sep 21st 2010, 14:04
Good luck tommy!
R Axisa
Sep 21st 2010, 10:46
I don't know this guy, but I wish him the best of luck. May God be with you.
Thomas Cremona
Sep 21st 2010, 09:55
Hi
Thank you for all the warm support, even though I'm going to be out with the rowing team on the Atlantic, knowing that you will be backing me in the Row4Cancer campaign is what makes this challenge worth it.
Much love :)
Joseph Bartolo
Sep 21st 2010, 06:47
Dear Thomas and Team, may God and his Angels be with you all as you cross over, the Atlantic Ocean. While you doing this great feat together praise God with all your hearts and souls dear ones. Abundant Eternal Blessings Thomas and Crew :)
Alba Cauchi
Sep 20th 2010, 22:43
Wishing you all the best Tom, I hope you gather all the support you need for such a deserving
challenge. You have all my admiration, respect and support! looking forward to reading your blog :)
You're an inspiration to many, and I'm sure more will gasp with amazement and take even just an inch of your courage to help strengthen theirs!
Hugs Alba
Amy Joan Zahra
Sep 20th 2010, 21:58
Good Luck Thomas...God bless you and enjoy!!
Jude Carabot
Sep 20th 2010, 21:10
Proud of you gbin..go for it :D
Beppe M Trigona
Sep 20th 2010, 17:37
Make us proud Tom! Hi5 ;-)
RaquelaDG
Sep 20th 2010, 17:36
Good luck Tom Tom We're with you all the way xxxx
R. Azzopardi
Sep 20th 2010, 16:32
What courage! Good luck Tom!
joe falzon
Sep 20th 2010, 15:14
go for it, thomas!....If you have a dream and you can fulfill it, do it! Life is too short to procrastinate! even if you don't make it in record time, even if you stop half way ---- trying to fulfill your dream is just as great! The vast majority of us -- even myself to an extent --- just talk and dream about it!.......good luck and godspeed
Mike Agius Muscat
Sep 20th 2010, 15:02
PROSIT TOM!! Keep it up!
You got the right character, attitude & mental strength to achieve this challenge successfully!
Anthony Delceppo
Sep 20th 2010, 14:48
wish you all the luck in the world
Jesmond Micallef
Sep 20th 2010, 14:35
The very best of luck to you Mr.Thomas Cremona and to all of your companions on this great adventure. The current 33 days record seems to nearly (numerically) coincide with the 33 1/2 hours Charles Augustus Lindbergh took to fly across the Atlantic solo on his machine, called "Spirit of St. Louis". May his spirit be with you all along the way.
Charles Augustus Lindbergh and Captain Joshua Slocum are two of my childhood heroes !!
http://www.charleslindbergh.com/
http://www.joshuaslocumsocietyintl.org/
E Engerer
Sep 20th 2010, 14:31
Good luck Tom :) I have no doubt that you will beat the record! =)
Michelle Vassallo Pulis
Sep 20th 2010, 13:50
Good luck Thom. A great guy indeed! Wishing you all the very best.
Harry Forrester
Sep 20th 2010, 13:01
I admire your courage and you are an example to us all! well done thomas, you are already a winner in my eyes.hope you manage to achieve all your dreams, and wish you the best of luck in the row across the atlantic.god bless you!
renee' deguara
Sep 20th 2010, 12:42
go ahead thomas!! may God be with u!! and may you succeed in ur future dreams.....
Jeremy Lanfranco
Sep 20th 2010, 12:08
Go for it Thomas!!! May God be with you and the team!!
Anthony Farrugia
Sep 20th 2010, 10:57
All of those who know Thomas believe in his determination to complete this enormous challenge - the Atlantic Ocean, no support boats, just sheer guts and committment. We may not all have his athletic abilities, but Thomas's spirit and his generosity is an example to all of us. He deserves the support of all of us, moral and financial.
charles caruana carabez
Sep 20th 2010, 10:51
Dear Thomas, I believe I remember you at Junior College. You have made my day. God speed.
Adam Vella
Sep 20th 2010, 10:39
Good Luck Tom, make us proud!
Dylan Lentini
Sep 20th 2010, 10:38
Good luck gbin nd well done for the courage! :)
Mark Bishop
Sep 20th 2010, 10:19
Good luck and don't let anyone or anything hinder your success.
anna debattista
Sep 20th 2010, 11:42
good luck thomas we are so proud of you
Gerry Said
Sep 20th 2010, 10:11
Wahey Tom best of luck!! I'm sure you'll do great!
Andrea Mangion
Sep 20th 2010, 10:07
Good Luck Tom!! Wish you best of luck!
John Zammit
Sep 20th 2010, 10:01
Goodluck to this courageous guy! We Maltese people should be proud of him!
Lawrence Mayo
Sep 20th 2010, 10:07
goodluck thomas ejjja :) from lawrence (stella maris)