I hate racing, rushing, doing things against the clock. And here I am, a proud member of a sailing racing crew.

I have never been good at sports. And I have excercised all my life. Rowing, swimming, running, biking, long distance…still not that good, just a respectable middle of the pack.

I was born and raised in Mexico City, a landlocked valley 2500 mt above sea level. And here I am, getting ready to cross the ocean.

I am lazy, enjoy idleness, have the soul of a tree. I can stare for hours to the horizon, submerged in my own thoughts. And I am going to be on a deck suddenly bursting in to frantic activity at the sound of -Are you ready? Grind! Grind! Ease! hold! HOOOOLD! What are you doing! (Exactly my thoughts…what am I doing?)

I hate authority, being bossed around, told what to do. And I am ready to be a happy cogwheel, just a piece of the working mechanism doing its part, a component of what is becoming a mean, lean, well oiled machine training for one purpose: ocean race sailing.

I like solitude, enjoy my space, my own company. And I am about to embark for weeks on in the confined space of a yacht with 20 other divergent souls like me, only a few of whom I barely know and most that I’ll meet just about to set sail together.

I am a father, a brother, a friend, a doctor with a very busy practice and a life full of responsibility. And I am taking this unconceivable long break off my daily duties and obligations to engage in this admittedly risky travesy.

I am not a rich man, far from it. I am a middle class regular guy just making a living. And I am about to live what many millionaires would never do or even dream of.

And talking about money, I hate dealing with it; payments, invoices, receipts, spreadsheets with budgets…and here I am fundraising for UNICEF

Life is mysterious and surprising, we just have to love and accept her, take her challenges, answer her callings.

Because the most unimaginable people, can do the unthinkable, achieve the extraordinary.

No matter what do we think we are, we have a chance to be whatever we want if we have love, people to look up to, inspiration and opportunities.

Let’s be that for children in need around the world. Let’s be loving, inspiring, generous.

Please answer the call, please just give.

Thank you,

Alonso