Donnacha Attig, who is originally from Chicago but has lived in Ireland for 20 years, is taking part in the Shannon Charity Challenge to raise money for an Indian orphan who was born with severe physical deformities.

Donnacha, who has been making his way down the river since the end of June, told the Limerick Leader that the strain of rowing his one ton cruiser against strong tides and harsh gales would kill a younger man: "I'm 72 years young, and this isn't a canoe I'm pulling. There's the same space as a 28ft sail boat in here; there's a cast-iron stove and a 7ft bed. This isn't a scull or a row boat - this is a one-ton family cruiser."

Donnacha is raising money for nine-year-old orphan Tony, from Tamil Nadu, who he says has a remarkable intelligence and lust for life despite being born with no arms and only one boneless leg.

Donnacha said that he is hoping to continue his journey down the Shannon estuary this week. "I got into Limerick at about 1am give or take a few minutes. I'll probably have to get pulled back out of the dock into the estuary - my anchor is after getting caught," he said.