Posted: 7/5/05
Lien heads to Marshall Islands
 Captain Lien |
Ardell Lien, the 70-year-old Caledonia man who is sailing around the world to raise awareness of organ donation, is now headed toward the Marshall Islands in the Pacific.
Lien set sail from San Diego on May 7 and arrived in Hawaiíi on June 28. He reports that the journey went well and he averaged about 100 miles a day.
Once in Hawaiíi, he was joined by his wife, Maureen, daughters Kris and Karen, and three grandchildren.
A reporter from a Honolulu TV station interviewed Ardell and Maureen from the Wakiki Yacht Club Marina where his boat, the 28' Catalyst, was docked. The Honolulu Star Bulletin also printed a feature article on Ardell's ìoutrageous adventure.î
The time in Hawaiíi was spent making small repairs to the boat and installing a new depth finder. Lien also installed a radar system, which will help when he is near the shipping lanes.
Capt. Lien is an accomplished sailor, and would not be making the voyage at all if not for the heart/kidney transplant he received in 2003. His mission since his recovery has been to encourage organ donation, and he welcomes the publicity he has been receiving so that the message gets out.
The journey is expected to take about 15 months.
For more information on the voyage:
www.organ-donation-for-life.com
Contributions may be forwarded to:
Wells Fargo Bank
Organ Donation for Life Inc.
305 FifthÝAvenue S,Ý P.O. Box 1688,
La Crosse, WIÝ 54601
Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com