This Christmas, four British adventurers are trading mince pies and merriment for one of the planet's most formidable physical trials: a 3,000-nautical-mile row across the Atlantic Ocean. Dubbed The World's Toughest Row, the epic journey aims to raise crucial funds and awareness for charities tackling Motor Neurone Disease (MND) and other life-changing conditions.
The Gruelling Challenge Ahead
The adventure begins on December 12 from La Gomera in the Canary Islands, with the finish line in Antigua, West Indies. The crew of Team Seas Life anticipates the crossing will take between 35 and 45 days, meaning they will spend the entire Christmas and New Year period at sea. They will face a relentless gauntlet of challenges, including monstrous waves reaching up to 20 feet high and extreme temperature swings from a chilly 10°C at night to over 30°C with high humidity during the day.
The physical toll will be immense. Each rower is expected to burn a staggering 6,000 calories daily and could lose between 12 and 20 kilograms in body weight before they finally reach dry land.
Meet the Crew of Seasoned Adventurers
Team Seas Life is a formidable quartet of experienced explorers. It features Julian Evans from Leicester, a veteran fundraiser who has previously reached both the North and South Poles on foot and was the 45th Briton to complete the Seven Summits challenge, having raised roughly £2 million for charity over the years.
He is joined by Ollie Phillips, a former England Rugby 7s captain and Guinness World Record holder. Rounding out the team are fellow seasoned adventurers and Everest summiteers, Stuart Kershaw and Tom Clowes.
Charitable Causes Close to the Heart
The team is rowing for several charities that have deep personal significance, many linked to the long-term impacts of sport. Julian Evans is fundraising for The Matt Hampson Foundation, which supports young people seriously injured through sport. The foundation was established by former Leicester Tigers prop Matt Hampson, who was left paralysed from the neck down after a scrum collapsed.
Another key beneficiary is the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation, established in honour of the late rugby legend Doddie Weir, who passed away in 2022 following his MND diagnosis. The team also aims to support Cure Parkinson’s, The Clocktower Foundation, and Shiplake Primary School.
Reflecting on the challenge, Ollie Phillips said: "This is going to be a superb challenge; I think probably the toughest thing that any of us have ever taken on before. But if we contrast that to some of the people that are impacted by the conditions that we're raising awareness and money for, then it pales into an insignificance."
He added, "I am excited yet nervous about the whole experience, but then also grateful that I'm able to utilise my audience and community to do something extraordinary and to raise a lot of money for some incredible causes."
By undertaking this extreme feat of endurance, Team Seas Life hopes to make a substantial impact, funding vital research and support for those affected by devastating neurological conditions.
