They kayaked 650 km in 20 days to raise money for a seriously ill girl

Alen Banković and Nino Kocijan spent 20 days kayaking 650 kilometers along Croatia’s coastline, from Savudrija in the north to Dubrovnik in the south.

The men, who run the YouTube channel Terra Croatia, described the Neptun expedition as more than a sporting challenge. They undertook it to raise money for eight-year-old Ivana Horvat, who has severe type 2 neurofibromatosis and needs specialist treatment in Turkey.

Their route followed the western coast of Istria, passed Poreč and Pula, crossed open water to Unije, and continued through the Kornati archipelago and past a series of Adriatic islands before reaching Dubrovnik. They sometimes covered up to 50 kilometers a day, waking before dawn and paddling late into the night. They slept in tents on remote beaches.

Stormy seas, high waves and extreme temperatures made the journey demanding. To avoid dehydration, they used a desalination pump that converted seawater into drinking water. Despite their exhaustion, the pair said abandoning the expedition was never an option because the effort to help Ivana kept them focused throughout the route.

They said donations are still needed and directed supporters to details on their Instagram profile.

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The pace was relentless. We paddled up to 50 kilometers a day, waking at first light and paddling deep into the night under the stars to reach the next point safely.