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WORLD’S TOUGHEST ROW – ATLANTIC

Invictus Atlantic are taking part in the premier event in ocean rowing. Over 40 crews from around the world will compete in the annual race from La Gomera to Antigua departing in December 2024. We are proud to row for our chosen charity Invictus Trust, raising money and awareness in the support of adolescent mental health in Cornwall.

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THE CHARITY

 

Invictus Trust is a young people’s mental health charity, based in Cornwall. The trust was founded by the Cowburn family, following the tragic loss of their son and brother Ben, aged 18, after a very short period of mental illness.

The Trust raises funds and awareness for adolescent mental health in Cornwall, Also supply information through school talks, our online mental health portal, events, and our short films.

After a lengthy campaign for Cornwall’s first Adolescent Mental Health Unit, where age-appropriate services can be offered, the Trust was delighted to see  the Sowenna Unit commissioned and has been involved in its design, build and enhancement throughout. Invictus Trust aimed to make the facility the first of its kind in England to care for the full adolescent age range, from 13-21 years.

Invictus Trust was founded in January 2011 following the tragic loss of Ben Cowburn, a bright and engaging young man who died following a short period of mental illness.
Suicide continues to be a major cause of death in young adults and has no boundaries that regard race, colour or demographic.
Mental health issues resulting in self harming and other negative behaviours continue to increase.
Investment in Mental health support is limited, undervalued and dismissed as unnecessary by many and yet mental health issues are increasingly evident in young people.
 

This Row Provides Funds For…

On 8th January 2024 Invictus Trust launched a new counselling service for 11 – 21 year olds.   The Trust has partnered with another Cornish charity, CLEAR, who will provide experienced, qualified counsellors to work with young people in need of mental health support.   The service will be easily available, accessible and appropriate to the specific needs of the young people of Cornwall.   With many young people in Cornwall waiting desperately for counselling support, sitting on 60 plus week waiting lists, our new counselling programme is vital.

Our aim with the Atlantic Challenge is to raise £100,000 to support the funding of this service.   A legacy that will directly support young people in Cornwall, connecting them to the professional support they need. 

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THE CHALLENGE

In December 2024 we will attempt to row the 3,000 nautical miles across the Atlantic Ocean from La Gomera to Antigua.

We will be competing with around 40 other boats and crews from around the world.

We will row 2 hours on and 2 hours off for 6 to 7 weeks, burning over 6,000 calories a day. In total we will row 6,000,000 oar strokes.

We must carry all our food, provisions and kit, accepting no outside assistance during the trip, all the while battling 40ft waves, sleep deprivation, and salt sores.

A Cornish crew, we row for Invictus Trust, educating, informing, and raising funds in support of adolescent mental health in Cornwall.

GET INVOLVED 

Donate through our Just Giving page, on our Crowdfunder site, or look to our Corporate Sponsorship page

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The Crew

Our crew of four is from the gig rowing community in Cornwall and former members of the Royal Navy.  We have all lived and worked in West Cornwall, and all three of us continue to have strong ties to the County.   We’re proud to work with Cornish charity Invictus Trust in support of adolescent mental health in Cornwall, and honoured that we row in their name, as Invictus Atlantic.
I am a former Royal Marine Commando and now a teacher and school leader. Married with three children. I have lived in Cornwall for the last 30 years, always been physically active, playing rugby, hill walking, sailing and kayaking. Teaching and living in the South West has made me acutely aware of the challenges facing young people with mental health issues and the stretch on resources to support them. Invictus Trust, our chosen charity, have been leaders in making a difference to the lives and futures of young people in Cornwall and the challenge of rowing the Atlantic on their behalf will be a privilege and an inspiration. Through our endeavours we intend to raise funds and to support young people in their challenging times.

Paul Hayes


I am a former Royal Marine Commando and now a teacher and school leader. Married with three children. I have lived in Cornwall for the last 30 years, always been physically active, playing rugby, hill walking, sailing and kayaking. Teaching and living in the South West has made me acutely aware of the challenges facing young people with mental health issues and the stretch on resources to support them. Invictus Trust, our chosen charity, have been leaders in making a difference to the lives and futures of young people in Cornwall and the challenge of rowing the Atlantic on their behalf will be a privilege and an inspiration. Through our endeavours we intend to raise funds and to support young people in their challenging times.
Ex Royal Navy Helicopter Pilot with a love of all things sport, travel, festivals and adventure. The Atlantic Rowing Challenge has been talked about for a while and it is now time to tackle it. I can’t imagine a better group to go on this journey with. Our chosen charity, Invictus Trust, is very close to my heart in dealing with adolescent mental health issues. Rowing in support of this amazing charity and the incredible work they do is all the motivation I need to complete the challenge. Although I live in Norfolk, I work all round the country as a Helicopter Instructor / Examiner mainly in the Air Ambulance sector. I have a deep affiliation with Cornwall having lived and worked there for 12 years; it is where I met and formed a truly lifelong friendship with Jim and Paul. I have a deep love of the water and am looking forward to the peace and tranquillity of propelling myself across it again (well maybe not that peaceful and tranquil in mid Atlantic – we will see!). I love having a goal to achieve so here we go.

Luke Morgan


Ex Royal Navy Helicopter Pilot with a love of all things sport, travel, festivals and adventure. The Atlantic Rowing Challenge has been talked about for a while and it is now time to tackle it. I can’t imagine a better group to go on this journey with. Our chosen charity, Invictus Trust, is very close to my heart in dealing with adolescent mental health issues. Rowing in support of this amazing charity and the incredible work they do is all the motivation I need to complete the challenge. Although I live in Norfolk, I work all round the country as a Helicopter Instructor / Examiner mainly in the Air Ambulance sector. I have a deep affiliation with Cornwall having lived and worked there for 12 years; it is where I met and formed a truly lifelong friendship with Jim and Paul. I have a deep love of the water and am looking forward to the peace and tranquillity of propelling myself across it again (well maybe not that peaceful and tranquil in mid Atlantic – we will see!). I love having a goal to achieve so here we go.
I’m a husband, father of three, businessman, gig rower, rugby and music lover. Never happier than when at the Glastonbury Festival with family and friends, or rowing in the sea around Cornwall with the Helford River Gig Club. The Atlantic Challenge has been long discussed amongst the four of us, but the start in December 2024 now seems ominously close! I live with my family in West Cornwall, close to the Helford River. Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has given so much to our family and I’m proud to give a little back by raising awareness and money for our chosen charity Invictus Trust.

James Brittain-Long


I’m a husband, father of three, businessman, gig rower, rugby and music lover. Never happier than when at the Glastonbury Festival with family and friends, or rowing in the sea around Cornwall with the Helford River Gig Club. The Atlantic Challenge has been long discussed amongst the four of us, but the start in December 2024 now seems ominously close! I live with my family in West Cornwall, close to the Helford River. Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has given so much to our family and I’m proud to give a little back by raising awareness and money for our chosen charity Invictus Trust.


I am a former Royal Engineer Officer, global project director and disaster response and recovery expert with a passion for adventure, the outdoors and making a positive impact on the lives of others. My desire for adventure has led me to lead a team on the North Face of Mt Everest, run the Marathon de Sables in the Sahara Desert, work in the jungles of Peru and explore many of the more remote parts of the world. Through my military, disaster response and personal life I have seen the challenges on mental health from many angles and I am honoured to have the opportunity to use our endeavours to raise money for the invaluable work of the Invictus Trust. As a keen surfer, I hold a deep affinity, and respect, for the sea and feel incredibly fortunate to be able to experience the magnitude of the Atlantic Ocean with this challenge. I am looking forward to pushing my own physical and mental limits with a great crew to raise awareness and funds in support of adolescent mental health.

David Radford Wilson


I am a former Royal Engineer Officer, global project director and disaster response and recovery expert with a passion for adventure, the outdoors and making a positive impact on the lives of others. My desire for adventure has led me to lead a team on the North Face of Mt Everest, run the Marathon de Sables in the Sahara Desert, work in the jungles of Peru and explore many of the more remote parts of the world. Through my military, disaster response and personal life I have seen the challenges on mental health from many angles and I am honoured to have the opportunity to use our endeavours to raise money for the invaluable work of the Invictus Trust. As a keen surfer, I hold a deep affinity, and respect, for the sea and feel incredibly fortunate to be able to experience the magnitude of the Atlantic Ocean with this challenge. I am looking forward to pushing my own physical and mental limits with a great crew to raise awareness and funds in support of adolescent mental health.
1 Boat
4 Men
45 Days
3,000 Miles

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