Sophie Pierce, who lives with cystic fibrosis (CF), has achieved something extraordinary. Along with her team mates Polly, Janine and Miyah, she became the first person with CF to row across the Atlantic Ocean. Over 53 days, Sophie rowed in shifts—day and night—while adhering to her twice-daily nebuliser therapy using the eFlow©rapid nebuliser system with eTrack® controller. This remarkable feat has not only broken world records and raised money for charity, but also inspired the cystic fibrosis community, proving that with determination, discipline, and the right support, anything is possible.
When Sophie set out to row across the Atlantic Ocean, she faced the daily demands of CF—a lifelong condition requiring intensive treatment to maintain lung health. What drove her? “I’m a rower,” she says simply. “A crewmate asked if I’d ever thought about rowing the Atlantic. I said, ‘Are you asking me to?’ She said, ‘Yes’. That was it. I was in!”
The biggest hurdle wasn’t physical training—it was medical logistics. A waterproof, battery-powered nebuliser that could survive the turbulent, damp conditions of the Atlantic didn’t exist. So a collaboration began: engineers, clinicians, and Sophie’s NHS care team co-developed a custom nebuliser setup with secure casing, a wireless charger, and solar compatibility. Big thanks to the Assisted Technology Innovation Centre (ATiC) at University of Wales Trinity St David! “It was like living in a washing machine,” Sophie says. “Tiny cabin, constant motion. I’d crawl to get meds, wedge myself in to take them, and still sometimes take a metal bolt to the head. But the treatments weren’t optional—they were essential.”
Sophie stuck to a strict two-hour rowing rotation, day and night. Her medical routine became a team priority. “My crew treated my nebulising like another chore—just one that only I could do,” she explains. “They covered other tasks so I could stay on track. It wasn’t discussed. It was just understood.” That unwavering support proved vital. “We protected each other’s space. It wasn’t about one person doing something amazing. It was all of us.”
Not every moment was awe-inspiring. “The first week was brutal. I cried. I screamed. I asked what the hell I was doing out there”. They also had massive seas to negotiate. “But there were unforgettable moments too—flat seas that mirrored the stars, glittering bioluminescence trailing the oars, and surreal, silent nights under moonrise”.
Sophie is clear: the row wasn’t in spite of CF—it was with it. “I don’t see treatments as a burden,” she says. “They enable me. I don’t have a choice about having CF, but I do have a choice in how I live with it. If I want to live well, I do my treatments. It’s not inspirational—it’s just how it is. And if you view it like that, then doing your treatments isn't a burden, actually, it's a privilege”
Sophie’s story isn’t about heroics. It’s about mindset, structure, and support. “You need determination, yes—but also access to the right tools, the right people, the right care,” she says. “Opportunity matters.” And what is her hope for the future? That someone else with CF reads this and starts planning their own adventure. “I’ll always hold the world record first. But I can’t wait for someone to beat it. I want them to go faster, row stronger, and take this further.”
No more ocean crossings—yet. “I want to learn to sail,” she says. “I’ve done something I never thought I could. Now, everything feels possible.”
If you want to help Sophie and the ‘Cruising Free’ team reach their charity fund-raising goal, please donate at Fundraiser by Cruising Free : Team Cruising Free Atlantic Row 2025.
The statements made in the report are the individual views of the person reporting. They do not necessarily reflect the PARI view or the general state of science.
An article written by the PARI BLOG editorial team.
© 2025 PARI GmbH Spezialisten für effektive Inhalation
