Team Of The Week: Heads Together And Row
PledgeSports have the pleasure of working with some phenomenal athletes and teams. Each week we choose one of them as the PledgeSports “Athlete of the Week”, but this week we’ve opted for a “Team of the Week” award instead.
This week’s winners are Heads Together And Row. It’s the team’s final week on PledgeSports, so we urge readers to check out this incredible project – we promise you’ll be inspired by what these four are going to achieve!
By their own admission, the team consists of one ordinary woman and three ordinary men.
They are setting themselves the ultimate test of mind and body in December 2017 – by attempting to row from the Canaries to Antigua as part of the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, the world’s toughest row.
The four, Alison Wannell, 38, from Bradford-On-Avon, Justin Coleman, 51, from Leicester, Toby Gould, 37, and Jeremy Reynolds, 39, both from London, will leave La Gomera in a rowing boat measuring approximately 7 metres by 2 metres, with the aim of arriving in the Caribbean, some 3000 miles away, around nine weeks later. They will work in pairs around the clock, taking two-hour shifts on and off.
The mental benefits of playing sport
The person who begins an expedition like this will be a completely different person to the one who finishes it, solely because of how physically and mentally demanding this challenge is.
As well as the physical challenge, this is a particularly difficult and unique feat because of the mental challenges the crew will face. In light of this, they hope to raise awareness and understanding of mental health both before and during the crossing.
“Having spent 7 years in the British Army, I am comfortable with being cold, wet, tired and hungry. The significant mental challenge that this row represents provides a great platform to shine a spotlight on the important issue of mental health,” said Jeremy.
With a seven foot cabin their only shelter against the elements, the team will be carrying all of their own food and making all their own water on board.
They will face mountainous waves, scorching temperatures and the unpredictability of one of the most dangerous oceans in the world.
But, at least they won’t be short of entertainment as we’re told crewmate Justin is a semi-professional stand-up comedian and comedy promoter. It’s guaranteed he’ll turn the tiny boat into a barrel of laughs!
Fundraising
The costs of this adventure are steep, at around £70,000. The crew are seeking £20,000 for the cost of chartering a boat and the kit that comes with it.
If they are to navigate the Atlantic’s choppy waters and raise awareness of mental health issues around the world they require the public’s support.
To contribute to the crew’s fantastic cause please click here to visit their fundraising project.
PledgeSports is a crowdfunding platform dedicated to sport.
Are you or someone you know seeking funding for the Talisker Whisky Challenge or an extreme expedition? Get in touch with us via email
in**@pl**********.org
or visit www.pledgesports.org and click “Create Your Campaign” to start raising money.