A WARRINGTON businessman is to lead a team of four in a gruelling 3,000-mile rowing race across the Atlantic.
Mark Brocklehurst, managing director of Woolston-based Sharples Group and three other business leaders from the Bolton area will take on the Talisker Atlantic Rowing Challenge.
The race will see teams from across the world attempt to row from the Canary Islands to the Caribbean unassisted.
Once they leave the safety of harbour on December 2 they will be on their own for anything from 40 to 90 days.
Dozens of teams enter the race every year but very few finish it. More people have been into space or climbed Everest than have rowed the Atlantic.
Technology giants Toshiba – who have had a working relationship with Sharples for years – is backing the race.
Mr Brocklehurst said: “We’ve had a great working relationship with Toshiba TEC for many years, so Toshiba was a natural choice to be our Technology Partner.
“Toshiba is providing us with communications equipment, so when we are out on the seas, we can update our blogs and make satellite calls”.
The equipment will not only allow the team to update followers and the media on their progress, but it is essential for the crew to be able to make contact with their loved-ones at home – particularly over Christmas!
Mr Brocklehurst and his crew are all inexperienced rowers and have been preparing for the intense physical challenge with military-style training for more than a year.
However, their biggest challenge before the event commences is to raise as much money as possible for their chosen charity, Bolton Lads and Girls Club, which offers vital support to some of the most vulnerable children in the North West.
It is the team’s intention to raise awareness for the cause, as well as to raise the funds needed to minimise the current waiting list for much needed help.
They hope to raise £250,000.
Donations can be made by texting “BLGC04 £(amount)” to 70070, or by going to www.justgiving.com/boltonatlanticrowingchallenge.
The team’s website can be found at www.boltonatlanticchallenge.co.uk where visitors will soon be able to sponsor the team and enter a raffle to win prizes donated by Toshiba.
