The Oceans Angels
Four girls, nicknamed the ‘Ocean Angels’, are attempting to make history by setting the world record for being the first all female crew to row the Indian Ocean in the world’s first official Indian Ocean Rowing Race organised by Woodvale Challenge, on 19 April 2009.
The foursome will race 3,720 miles from Australia to Mauritius in a 29 foot rowing boat to raise money for Breast Cancer Care, the charity that supports people living with breast cancer.
With 3 weeks to go before the first ever Indian Ocean Rowing Race starts the Ocean Angels are heading to Australia to do acclimatisation training, packing and preparation of the boat and mentally prepare for the mammoth task in hand. They will need to row for 2 hours on, 2 hours off, all day every day through extreme heat and 50 foot waves, avoiding unfriendly marine life (think sharks!) and dodging commercial ships. They will have to cope with sleep deprivation, salt sores and the physical extremes that the row will inflict. They hope to arrive in Mauritius having not seen land or other people for 75 days.
The foursome is made up of: Fiona Waller, a photographer [and cancer survivor] (34); Sarah Duff a consumer researcher (25), and Elin Haf Davies a nurse (32) who all rowed the Atlantic in 2007, and also first timer Jo Jackson (28) who had never set foot in a rowing boat or been to sea until signing up for this enormous challenge! The ‘Angels’ are the only female crew to enter the 2009 Woodvale Challenge, being heralded as ‘the world’s toughest rowing race’. More people have walked on the moon than successfully rowed the Indian Ocean, but their 224 days of ocean rowing experience is one of the reasons Denise Lewis believes they can do it.
Today Denise Lewis said: "Wow ladies - what an incredible journey you have ahead of you. Rowing across the Indian Ocean will be a tough challenge but also an amazing adventure!
"As an Ambassador for Breast Cancer Care I’ll be rooting for you as I know how vital this challenge is in helping to raise funds to support people living with Breast Cancer today. I really hope you set the World Record for first and fastest all women crew to row the Indian Ocean - I’ll be following your progress and wish you all the luck in the world!"
They hope their epic voyage and supporters will help them raise £50,000 for Breast Cancer Care.
Fiona Waller, 34, one of the crew, said: "I saw my mother, Elisabeth, go through and eventually die from breast cancer in 2000. I was also diagnosed with cancer just after my 30th birthday so I have seen the impact this disease can have. This fundraising is my way of saying thank you to those that helped my Mum and improved her quality of life whilst she was going through horrendous treatments. I hope the row will inspire others to live their dreams and experience something incredible."
To donate to the cause go to justgiving.com/oceanangels.
Tagged in Breast Cancer