Presenting: Artist Alex Echo for Hydrow

Alex Echo is a world-renowned contemporary artist whose work has been commissioned by the Dalai Lama, Oprah Winfrey, and Robert Downey Jr., to name a few. His passion for using his artwork to help raise money and awareness for important causes has spanned decades. Through his work, which has included everything from paintings to digital NFTs, he has helped benefit a wide variety of philanthropies.

An exclusive pro bono project

Now partnering with Hydrow and Parkinson’s UK, who he has worked with for two years, Alex Echo has created limited-edition designs to be printed on exclusive Hydrow rowers and accessories. A percentage of each sale will be donated to Parkinson's UK, a charity very close to Alex's heart, having been diagnosed with the condition in 2019. Aligning with World Parkinson’s Month, these limited-edition Hydrows will be available for purchase, each with its own unique NFT, from mid-April exclusively at Selfridges in London, before launching on Hydrow.co.uk. The collection will be unveiled at an invitation-only event at Castle Fine Art on South Molton Street, Mayfair which has been home to Alex’s art for many years.

[Visual representation only.]

**The Collection as described by Alex himself**

From humanity’s beginning, we have been aware of the four elements and our place within their balance. Nothing is sustainable without balance. Over the course of the last 5,000 years, we have gradually drifted away from this equilibrium of elements and with the mind-numbing acceleration of technology in the past 30 years, we are in danger of losing balance altogether. We need to “Row This Back.”

If we can reconnect with the four elements for even ten minutes a day, finding personal quiet and strength, we can re-tune and return ourselves to a sense of balance. Balance for our minds, bodies and spirit, making us whole for our communities, family, friends, neighbours, and society.

The main creative idea, exclusively for Hydrow, is centered around the four elements, with water as our natural hero.

• WATER: represents emotional release, intuition, and inner reflection.

• AIR: represents intellect, mental intention, and connection to the universal life force. 

• EARTH: represents grounding, the foundation of life, substance, connection to the life path, and family roots.

• FIRE: represents energy, transformation, connection to personal power, and inner strength.

• EARTH AIR FIRE WATER: represent balance and living as one, together in harmony. 

In addition to the Elements collection above, Alex has crafted a third unique design which celebrates the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, adorned with a very special version of the Union Jack. A percentage of sales from this limited edition Hydrow will also go to benefit Parkinson’s UK.

Alex’s commitment to charities

In 2009, Alex created and sold ten paintings at the prestigious Wallace Collection in London, whose proceeds were used to rebuild an earthquake-destroyed school in southern China. Alex also created one of SWATCH Watches’ most successful artist designs, the “Imagine Love” watch, which sold more than 150,000 units. Alex donated all his royalties to send over 80 children affected by AIDS to a summer health camp in New York.

In 2020, he bestowed a permanent installation on London’s newest hospital, the UCLH Proton Beam Therapy Centre in the Grafton Way Building. It covers 81 rooms over five floors. Partnering with Next, Alex's Love cushion, Love art plaque and Love t-shirts have also raised funds for the charity, Parkinson’s UK — and he has countless more stories of support and impact like this.

Diagnosed with Parkinson’s

Following his confirmed diagnosis of Parkinson’s in 2019, Alex has made it his mission to raise awareness and support for this challenging condition. Symptoms can include tremors, rigidity, impaired balance and coordination, sleep problems, pain, and more. Because of the beneficial effects of physical activity for those with Parkinson’s, and the low-impact nature of rowing, we gifted Alex a Hydrow last year.

Since becoming a Hydrow member, Alex has shared that the workouts have helped him sleep better (from an average of four to seven hours per night!), increase endurance, and improve his overall physical and mental well-being.

Hydrow has changed my life. Parkinson’s diagnosis, followed by pandemic and subsequent nearly 18 month lockdown, I succumbed to a mild depression, surrendered to my sofa and let my body atrophy. I got my Hydrow as a last grasp. Its smooth, rhythmic, zen movements, and inviting and enthusiastic instructors instantly transported me to a new place of hope and a gradually returned sense of accomplishment. Sitting down all the while using 86% of my muscle structure is important for two reasons. First, with Parkinson’s I always have the fear of falling over — on the Hydrow I don’t have that fear. Second, research is being carried out around the world to show how being active can benefit people with Parkinson’s. I find it is equally as important to mitigating symptoms as any medication. My well-being feels renewed.

- Alex Echo, Hydrow UK Member

Help spread awareness

This exclusive partnership has been created to both raise money for Parkinson’s UK and awareness for Parkinson’s itself. If you already own a Hydrow, please spread the word to your friends, family and on social media and tag @hydrow.

To learn more about how Hydrow workouts can help those with Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis or other long term health conditions, click here. To read more about Alex Echo and the limited-edition Hydrow collection, click here or visit alexecho.com.

If you are affected by Parkinson's and would like to speak to someone, please visit Parkinson's UK support services at: https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/information-and-support or call their helpline on 0808 800 030.