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From 2017 to 2018, two friends, Joe and Ross, tragically and unexpectedly took their own lives. Both young men were intelligent, confident, outgoing, devilishly good looking, and surrounded by loyal and loving friends. Nevertheless, they were afflicted by the horrific problem of mental health issues. Their experiences highlight the fact that even lives filled with love, laughter and success are not safe. Suicide is now the leading cause of death for under-35s in the UK and it is estimated that 1 in 4 people experience a mental health issue every year. We are proud to do our little bit to help fight mental health problems by raising money for MIND by competing in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge 2021. 

MIND is the leading mental health charity in England and Wales. It works to provide advice and support to anyone experiencing a mental health problem. It is regularly consulted by the government, leads national campaigns, and has a network of 125 local branches which offer crisis care, housing support, counselling and much more. The desire to honour the memories of Joe and Ross will be with us for every oar stroke across the Atlantic Ocean. 

The Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge is the premier event in ocean rowing. The challenge will take us more than 4800 kilometres (3000 miles) west from San Sebastian in La Gomera, Canary Islands to Nelson’s Dockyard, English Harbour, Antigua & Barbuda. The annual race begins in early December, with up to 30 teams participating from around the world. Weeks before the race begins, the rowing teams and the world's media begin to gather in the race village in San Sebastian. The atmosphere is electric as people help each other prepare for the once-in-a-lifetime challenge of crossing the mighty Atlantic Ocean in a rowing boat. 

The mental and physical endurance required to complete the challenge is extreme - more people have been to space or climbed Mt Everest than have rowed across the Atlantic Ocean. Each competitor will row for two hours and rest for two hours, twenty-four hours a day, every day. Teams will battle sleep deprivation, salt sores, dehydration, hallucinations, sun stroke and waves of up to 30ft. Each rower burns more than 5,000 calories per day, resulting in an average weight loss of 12kg during the row. The average crossing takes around 42 days but is hugely dependent on weather conditions - in the 2016 race, solo rower Daryl Farmer arrived in Antigua after 96 days, having lost his rudder on the 56th day!

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