The Atlantic Rowing Race is known as one of the toughest endurance tests on Earth – nearly 3000 miles of pain, sleep deprivation and biting cold wind against bare skin.
More people have been into space than have rowed the Atlantic Ocean, but this year a team of four men will face the challenge in a bid to raise money for Bolton Lads & Girls Club.
Finn Christo, Nick Griffths, Matt Tomkin, and Mark Brocklehurst hope to raise £250,000 for the club’s Junior Mentoring Program.
The program provides support for children who are in economic deprivation or have social issues, by pairing them up with a mentor.
Finn, 32, is a mentor at the club, he said: “These kids might not have anyone else to talk to, so it’s great to be able to talk to them and give them life lessons, which is what we’re trying to do.
“It’s pretty amazing to be honest – it really tugs at your heartstrings.
“But there’s a long waiting list because there’s not enough mentors so we want to use the money to develop the program.”
The four men have had to sit exams and are now all qualified sailors, after studying maps, GPS and boat maintenance.
Finn suffers a gruelling schedule which sees him train three times a day – In the morning, at lunch, and after work.
“It’s pretty hard going to be honest,” he said.
“We’ve practiced in the Irish Sea with the boat and we don’t enjoy it all – no one enjoys being out in the cold.
“We’ve been out in storms rowing for two hours, having an hour break, puking up, going to the toilet in a bucket, and then rowing again.
“And this is literally an hour or two off Holyhead so when we’re actually in the Atlantic doing it for real it’s going to be a lot harder.”
WORLD’S TOUGHEST ENDURANCE TEST: Team undertake intensive training
Two years ago Finn was hit by a car leaving him unable to move his arms or shoulders for six months.
He claims the accident was the ‘kick up the backside’ he needed, but adds he wouldn’t wish it on anybody else.
“Training was a great way to rehabilitate myself and things just got bigger and bigger until this opportunity came up,” he said.
The race starts on the Island of La Gomera in the Canary Islands and finishes 2933 miles away in Antigua.
Finn and the team will leave the UK on November 16 and the row will start December 2, meaning the men will be away from their families over Christmas and New Year.
They will take it in turns to row with two of them rowing for two hours while the others rest, prepare food and carry out boat maintenance checks.
Checks will involve jumping out of the boat and swimming underneath to check all is well.
While at sea the team will have to keep an eye out for sharks, whales, sea turtles, storms and ships – as well as 40ft waves.
Finn said: “It’s pretty dangerous, it’s more likely that we’ll be hit by a tanker ship than be attacked by a shark – if anything happens I think the quickest someone can get to us is ten days.
“I talk about it as though it’s someone else taking part in the race and not me – everyday there’s a little voice in my head saying ‘you’re going to do what?!’”
The team has so far raised £112,000 but fundraising will continue until they get back home – it is expected that the challenge will take 35 days or more.
When asked if he considers himself to be an unsung hero, Finn replied ‘not yet!’.
“Manchester is full of unsung heroes – they could be the police on the beat, firemen, or people in Market Square collecting for charity,” he said.
“I’m just doing something that will raise a few eyebrows as well as some money – I don’t know if that makes me an unsung hero or not.”
To donate money to the Junior Mentoring Program fund visit http://www.boltonatlanticchallenge.co.uk/
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