Natalia Cohen, a record-breaking rower, spoke at the Friendship Circle’s first event of 2018.
Natalia Cohen, who was part of the first ever women’s team to row across the Pacific Ocean, spoke at Salford charity the Friendship Circle’s first event of the year.
Around 50 people attended the talk as Natalia, who is from Hale, returned to her roots to share the story of her Pacific Ocean expedition. Natalia was part of the ‘Coxless Crew’, the first all-female team to row unsupported from the US to Australia, and which set two world records along the way and made a journey of just under 9,000 miles in a 29 foot pink rowing boat. Natalia told the audience about the challenges of battling extreme weather conditions and storms, and also spoke about overcoming personal challenges.
Established as a registered charity in 2010, the Friendship Circle fills a gap in the social, emotional and cultural provision for people with physical and learning disabilities in the Manchester area, and this latest talk is one of a number of events that the charity runs.
Mimi Lyons, director of the Friendship Circle said: “Many disabled people in our community struggle socially and find it difficult to make friends, whether through their own challenges or the stigma society puts on them. Our vibrant range of social and recreational activities provides our members with the same opportunities to make friends as everyone else and, together with our vast network of over 100 volunteers, encourages a culture of understanding and acceptance in the wider community.”