Hi, I have just competed in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, a 3000mile crossing from La Gomera in the Canaries to Antigua for charity. It took all my money and more to get to the start line and now I have to find another £4100 to ship Jan (the boat) home. She did me proud - I rowed solo and unsupported through Atlantic storms and 60" waves and arrived in Antigua on the 12th February 2017, 59 days 19 hours and 14min after leaving the Canaries mid-December 2016 with tears of joy to see my family. I now hold the race record for the fastest solo female crossing, the British and world record for fastest female solo crossing in an open class boat. Of course these achievements are personally important to me but more importantly I rowed in honour and memory of my Mum - whom the boat is named after and who suffered from Dementia for 17 years from the age of 55.

Continuing to raise money for Alzheimers is important to me as is inspiring the future generation into sport and other ladies into what is possible to endure and achieve. We have developed an Curriculum for Excellence Education Package around the Row for Primary school children that is available for free on request and having the boat back so that school children can physically see it would be fantastic. With enough funds I would love to be able to keep Jan to take people on ocean row trips - however at present that is a pipe dream as there are debts to be paid off.

With very grateful thanks for any support you can offer, Elaine Hopley