Mentor native Katie Spotz has a thirst for some things in life — athletic endurance events and helping people in need being a couple. When she decided to implement one to try to accomplish the other, thousands have benefitted in the process and she has broken records in the meantime. On Oct. 1 Spotz finished “A Long Way 4 Water,” a 3,100-mile journey across South America by bicycle and kayak. This came after “Row for Water,” a 3,000-mile solo row across the Atlantic Ocean that she was the youngest person to accomplish. Mentor native Katie Spotz completed her trek through South America via bike and kayak as part of her A Long Way 4 Water campaign. (Courtesy of Katie Spotz) This latest accomplishment for the Mentor grad also marks history as she’s the first woman and first American to make the 6,100-mile journey. This journey took Spotz roughly two months, covering 3,100 miles crossing the length of Guyana, through Brazil, into Peru, by kayak and bicycle. The first leg began in November 2023, covering 900 miles from Georgetown, Guyana, to Manaus, Brazil. The second leg began in late May, cycling and kayaking 600-miles across the thickest part of the Amazon Rainforest from Manaus, Brazil, to Porto Velho, Brazil. Mentor native Katie Spotz completed her trek through South America via bike and kayak as part of her A Long Way 4 Water campaign. (Courtesy of Katie Spotz) The final 1,600-mile portion of the journey began in September, cycling from Porto Velho, Brazil, to Lima, Peru, taking three-weeks. The challenge aimed to raise $10,000 and provide access to clean water in Peru. A Long Way 4 Water marks the 11th endurance challenge to raise money for clean water projects in developing countries around the world for Spotz. She rose to the public spotlight during her 2010 campaign Row For Water where she set records by rowing solo across the Atlantic Ocean in 70 days, becoming the youngest ever person to do it alone and first American to row from Africa to South America. To date, Spotz’s activism has impacted over 46,874 lives and funded 148 clean water projects across 16 countries. Mentor native Katie Spotz completed her trek through South America via bike and kayak as part of her A Long Way 4 Water campaign. (Courtesy of Katie Spotz) “To some, this journey seems crazy. But, when 1 in 10 people don’t have clean water to drink, the craziest thing to do would be nothing,” Spotz said. “This endeavor is an enormous undertaking and a real mental, physical and emotional challenge. The approach towards this journey is the same approach we need to overcome the global world water crisis — by taking things one small step at a time.” “It was particularly difficult to breathe this last adventure with heavy smoke due to forest fires across the Amazon, and I don’t think there was one day on the trip that I wasn’t chased by dogs.” — Katie Spotz on her A Long Way 4 Water journey Now living in Cleveland, Spotz said she wasn’t much of an athlete until she tried endurance sports, although she was on the tennis, track and swim teams at Mentor High. Her first endurance challenge was at 18, completing her first marathon and after that she was “hooked.” “When I learned about the water crisis, I knew that I wanted to do something,” Spotz said. “At the time, 1 billion people or 1 in every 6 people were without access to clean water. I couldn’t fathom life without such a basic human need being met. “What excites me about supporting the clean water mission is that this problem has solutions,” she added. “There are cost-effective ways to help. Sometimes $10 is enough to provide one person access to clean water for 10 years. Water truly changes everything. Clean water gives children the opportunity to attend school and get an education. With education, communities are able to raise up strong leaders, making it possible to break the cycle of poverty and allowing future generations to improve their quality of life. “Water is the first step.” Not every step of Spotz’s journey was a vacation or without a little stress. Related Articles Local News | Perry Village will hold Halloween, Christmas events Local News | Man dies in motorcycle crash on Roosevelt Drive in Painesville Local News | Election 2024: Kirtland charter amendment would raise income tax, fund roads Local News | Off-duty Painesville police officer arrested on DUI charges in Fairport Harbor Local News | Madison Township Police Department presents annual awards to top officer, civilian employee “Going through the Amazon Rainforest, most days were over 100 degrees and I battled heat exhaustion,” Spotz said. “The roads were unpaved in the Amazon, and were at times muddy requiring me to push my bike when the roads were impassable. I climbed 60,000 feet in this last leg of the journey cycling through the Andes which is equivalent to cycling the height of Mount Everest, more than twice. Altitude sickness, physical exhaustion and mild hypothermia were all things I overcame during the journey. “It was particularly difficult to breathe this last adventure with heavy smoke due to forest fires across the Amazon, and I don’t think there was one day on the trip that I wasn’t chased by dogs,” Spotz added. Now that it is finished and she looks back on everything she endured, she believes it was worth it for the good of people in need of clean water, but she is glad to be back home. “There is a mix of emotions, but mainly gratitude for safely being able to complete the journey and for being able to raise funds for a clean water project in Peru,” Spotz said. “The journey is over, but the fundraising continues. “It felt so surreal to reach the end after three legs and eight to nine weeks of cycling or kayaking approximately eight hours a day,” she added. “Now that I am back, I am savoring all the small things like heat or air-conditioning, a warm shower and bug-free bed.”