Four friends face an epic 3,000 mile row to Antigua after a pub chat

Four rowing buddies take on a grueling 3,000-mile challenge for a charity dedicated to a Truro teenager who took his own life. The group hope their epic journey across the Atlantic will raise enough money to secure the short-term future of a mental health counseling service for teenagers in Cornwall.

Rowers James Brittain-Long, Paul Hayes, Luke Morgan and David Radford-Wilson have signed up as the Invictus Challenge team for the World’s Toughest Row, which is set to start on December 12. They will row from the Canary Islands to Antigua in 45 years. days, traversing a course of 3,000 nautical miles (5,556 km) across the Atlantic.

The team will be raising money for the Invictus Trust, a Cornish mental health charity dedicated to raising awareness of teenage mental health. It was set up in January 2011 by the family of Ben Cowburn, who died aged 18 after a period of mental illness.

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Team captain James Brittain-Long, who is a member of Helford River Gig Club, said: “We’re four old friends with strong links to Cornwall and it’s all about raising money to fund the brilliant work of the Invictus Trust, supporting. the mental health of young people in Cornwall and connecting them with the help they need.

“We took delivery of our boat at the start of June and the pub talk has really come to an end as we get down to the hard work of training on land and at sea. We are very grateful for the support we have already received and would like to thank our main sponsor Aspects Holidays, along with Seasalt Clothing, Fourth Element and Mylor Yacht Harbor where we train.”

Since Ben’s death, his family have campaigned tirelessly to raise awareness of teenage mental health in Cornwall. She was instrumental in setting up Cornwall’s first residential adolescent mental health unit after a seven-year campaign.

In January, the Invictus Trust invested £100,000 in a new pilot counseling service for 11-21-year-olds in Cornwall, in partnership with another Cornish charity, CLEAR, who are experts in supporting adolescent mental health. The new service received more than 100 referrals in its first eight days and provided or scheduled more than 1,000 counseling sessions in its first six months.

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Invictus Atlantic rowing team are hoping to raise the £100,000 needed to run the counseling service for a second year. And by proving the value it provides, the Invictus Trust hopes to secure a permanently funded solution for Cornwall from NHS chiefs.

Sharon Cowburn, who founded the Invictus Trust with husband Steve and daughters Sophia, Amber and Laura, said: “We are delighted that the team have chosen the Invictus Trust as their charity. We know that the demand for mental health services continues to increase among young people. to the people of Cornwall and we offer an affordable, bespoke service so that when a young person or parent asks for help via WhatsApp or email, they get a quick personal response and waiting times are really minimal.

“If we can show the continued value of our dedicated counseling service for 11-21 year olds then we hope it can be funded permanently, supporting thousands of young people and saving families the pain we feel every day from the loss of Ben. We wish the Invictus Atlantic team all the best in their huge challenge and hope that the people and businesses of Cornwall will get behind them.”

A total of 44 boats from around the world will take part in the annual World’s Toughest Row challenge, with each crew member rowing in shifts of two hours on, two hours off, 24 hours a day for six to seven weeks.

The Cornish team boat is only 8.5 meters long. There is no toilet on board – but there is a bucket. The team must carry all their own food, supplies and kit, make their own drinking water and accept no outside assistance.

To support the fundraiser and make a donation, visit the Invictus Atlantic website.

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