Men marooned on a raft to make a difference | News

PORTSMOUTH, New Hampshire (NEWS CENTER) -- When friends Jason Perry and Jason Tremblay set sail on their 36-hour excursion Tuesday morning, getting to their destination wasn't a problem, the real challenge will be meeting their goal.

"We are just making sure last year's rafting adventure wasn't a fluke," explained Jason Tremblay.  Last year, the two men spent 36 hours floating on the Merrimack River in Manchester and raised $36,000 for the New Hampshire Make-A-Wish Foundation."We want to see if we can reach that goal again, and get to $36,000 here on the Sea Coast, and then maybe we'll be out in the ocean, during Shark Week, who knows?"

The six-person life raft they are calling home for the next couple of days is tethered to a mooring in the Piscatiqua River near The Chandler's Loft, across from the Pierce Island boat launch.

"Of course, this is the master suite here, with the adjoining bathroom," Tremblay said while giving a tour of their spacious abode.  "And then my shipmate's quarters here."

Did they learn anything last year that will help make for smooth sailing during this year's event?

"We had the toilet last year," explained Jason Perry.  "So what we probably learned was not to use it this year.  Just have it as a necessity, but not use it, cause it is not easy on a moving surface."

While the men laughed and joked about their hardship, there was serious business to address.  They say 60 kids are waiting for their wishes to be granted in New Hampshire, and every dollar they raise helps a sick child find their smile.

"Thirty-six hours of us just being in our own little world here in this raft is nothing compared to what these children go through that are fighting for their lives," said Perry.  "So for us to raise some awareness and dollars to help give these children a moment of hope and normalcy, by granting them a wish, by all means is well worth it to us."

Their 36-hour odyssey ends around 8pm Wednesday night.