With this sporting adventure, the expedition "Cap optimist" wishes to help children with cancer and their companions.
Leaving Lima on January 4, these five French women and a Spanish woman were welcomed some 8,000 kilometers away by hundreds of Polynesians, some of whom have cancer.
They rode the last few metres on a traditional six-seater canoe before being reunited with their families.
"It's a lot of joy and a great relief, the culmination of a three-year project with preparation: I find my daughter after an exceptional welcome," one of the rowers, Alexandra Lux, told AFP.
"It was really hard to row each four hours a day, but it was also a mental challenge, and human, to live together on a small boat," said another rower, Emmanuelle Bescheron.
All are high-level athletes and one of them, the world champion in coastal rescue Stéphanie Barneix, has beaten four cancers.
The rowers took turns every hour, day and night, to make their crossing lying down or squatting on a large paddle board.
This challenge of the association Hope Team East raises funds to equip care centers with sports equipment and support children with cancer.
Each kilometer covered brought in 100 euros, which allowed the six women to raise 800,000 euros, divided 40% to finance the challenge and 60% for solidarity actions.
The rowers will go to schools on Monday, then to the hospital of Tahiti and the new Cancer Institute of French Polynesia, to promote sport-health.
© 2023 AFP