We are Jon George and Lewis Fitchett, founding members of team The Pretendoars and we are embarking on the challenge of a lifetime, to row across the Atlantic Ocean.

We aim to complete the challenge and raise awareness for the mental health charity Mind.

We have named ourselves The Pretendoars as we are both amateur rowers that have made it our mission to successfully row the Atlantic Ocean but also break down the stigma that you have to pretend to be okay when times get tough in life. The charity MIND do some fantastic work that we want to support in the biggest way possible with one of the biggest challenges in the world. We aim to show on our journey to the start line and across the ocean that through communication, support and teamwork any challenge, no matter how big, can be overcome. We are also both teachers and we want to educate and inspire our students, as well as students across the globe, as we spread news of our adventure and the message of supporting mental health issues. We would love people of all ages to unite and for this adventure to start conversations that flourish in to a whole community supporting and backing the cause of promoting mental health wellbeing.

We won’t be able to do this alone so help us start raising awareness for mental health issues by aiding us with our challenge.