A MAN is set to row nearly 3,000 miles across the Atlantic to raise money for a local charity.
Mark Story, 36 from Torpoint, will aim to row from La Gomera, in the Canary Islands to Antigua, a journey of around 2,870 miles, in an attempt to raise £100,000 for Ellie's Haven, a Looe-based charity providing a holiday centre for terminally ill children.
The row, which will take place in December 2009, is part of an organised race which first took place in 1997 and has been run by Woodvale Events Ltd in Saltash about every two years since.
The crossing will take between 50 and 70 days to complete, and Mark, along with his brother, will row on a two-hour shift rotation night and day on a boat worth £30,000.
They will have to carry their own food and make their own water from the sea.
'We had heard about Ellie's Haven because it's a local concern, our dad sings in the Polperro Fishermans Choir and had done some fundraising for them,' said Mark.
'When we met Ellie and her parents Nigel and Julie Libby, they seemed such normal people doing something so extraordinary and we knew we should be doing this for them.'
'At the moment, we are trying to get out on the boat as much as we can.'
Amazing
Julie Libby, Ellie's mother and co-founder of the charity, said: 'I just think it is amazing that they are willing to take on this challenge for us. It is very brave and I can't thank them enough.'
Mark added: 'More than anything we want the communities to get involved and get behind us. We will be very isolated out there and knowing there are local people following our progress through our website will be a real motivator. We also need sponsors, fundraisers and donations.'
If anyone would like to sponsor the pair on their journey, you can contact Mark on 07974 561 901 and visit their website on http://www.atlanticfreedom.com">www.atlanticfreedom.com.