Rowers embark on 3,000 mile Atlantic charity bid

Friends Harry Martin-Dreyer and Alex Bland, from Shropshire, will depart from the shores of Gran Canaria tomorrow in a two-man boat armed with nothing but a set of oars to carry them on their journey.

They will leave in the knowledge they have already beaten their £125,000 charity fundraising target.

Harry and Alex, both 27, hope they will wash up on the other side of the Atlantic in about three months time, after spending Christmas bobbing alone in their boat.

The friends had initially hoped to raise £100,000 from the challenge, but upped their target to £125,000 after beating the original aim.

And with less than 24 hours to go before they take to the water, pledged donations have now passed the new target, with the grand total now standing at £125,787.

But fundraising is continuing with the pair aiming to collect as much as possible.

Harry and Alex travelled to Gran Canaria earlier this month for their final preparations and are now ready to take to the water. They will be keeping their supporters in touch with their progress through a daily blog.

Harry said: "It is an enormous challenge. Generally in the day it is easy to be calm and relaxed about what we face – but I haven't had a normal night's sleep for several weeks. I am often dreaming about huge waves or leaving an essential piece of equipment behind."

Money raised from the challenge will be split between Cure Leukaemia, and diabetes charity JDRF.

The charities provided support to Harry's mother Alexandra, who died in March as a result of complications in her leukaemia treatment, and also help Alex's brother, Ross, who has type one diabetes.

And in tribute to Harry's late mother, the boat they are travelling in has been named Alexandra.

When they take to the ocean, the pair will be rowing alternately on two-hour shifts for 24 hours a day.

Alex, who is originally from Cound, near Shrewsbury, and Harry, from Lyneal, near Ellesmere, first met at Shrewsbury School and decided to take on the challenge while both working in London.

Fewer than 300 Atlantic rows of this type have ever been successfully completed, according to the Ocean Rowing Society. But the pair are fully equipped for the marathon journey, with 1,080 meals and 180 snack bags now stored on deck. They have enough supplies to last 90 days, but they hope the crossing will take about 60 days to complete.

Friends, family and members of the public will be able to follow the progress of the boys online. There will also be regular updates in the Shropshire Star and online.

Their website has a map on the front page, with a tracker on the boat that will update their progress along the route.

Both charities that will benefit from the row have sent messages of good luck to the boys ahead of them setting off.

Michael Connellan, senior media manager for JDRF, said: "This is a truly remarkable and courageous challenge that both Harry and Alex are embarking on.

"We wish them both all the best on their voyage and we thank them for the phenomenal amount that they have already raised to support vital research.

"Harry and Alex's magnificent journey is taking us even closer to finding a cure for type 1 diabetes."

James McLaughlin, chief executive officer for Cure Leukaemia, added: "I wish Harry and Alex all the luck in the world for their cross-Atlantic voyage.

"It will be a remarkable achievement and the money they have already raised is extraordinary in itself. We will all be behind you and remember all the patients you will be helping through your efforts, good luck."

For more information or to make a donation, visit www.rowing4research.com