Duo's oarsome charity challenge

Sep 1 2009 By Rupert Basham, Surrey Herald

TWO rowers will spend Christmas battling Mother Nature by crossing the Atlantic Ocean to raise money for the British Heart Foundation and the Princess Alice Hospice in Esher.

Byfleet Boat Club member, Steve Coe, 48, and Weybridge Rowing Club's Richard Hoyland, 40, will take part in the Atlantic Rowing Race, which will see them make a 2,935-mile journey from the Canary Islands to Antigua.

The pair aim to cross the ocean by early February 2010, and hope to raise £50,000.

Richard, who lives in Leatherhead, said: "Both myself and Steve have done big sporting challenges before.

"We've entered 24-hour bicycle races and have both done marathons but it has all been building to something this epic and stupid. How many people get to row across an ocean?

"I've always raised money for the Heart Foundation and I've always enjoyed these challenges, so this seemed like a fantastic way to combine the two."

Following an initial conversation Steve and Richard had at a barbecue in September 2007, they set about raising the funds to buy their 23ft boat, No Fear.

For Richard, training for the mammoth challenge includes rowing on a machine in the morning before he cycles for an hour-and-a-half from his home to central London, where he works for Bupa.

He said: "I do stick to the regime quite religiously, even though it is gruelling. The commute to work is much better than if I was on a train, it just means more early nights. I row on the river on the weekends and have recently started competing. I do feel a lot fitter now and because we have been preparing for it for such a long time I'm really eager to go."

Both Richard and Steve, who used to work as a Thames Waterman, a "taxi service on the river", have chosen charities close to their hearts.

Steve's father-in-law was given palliative care for kidney cancer at the Princess Alice Hospice and Richard's father died of heart disease.

They are aiming to raise £50,000 which they will split between the charities.

Richard said: "Both of them have treated our families so well that we are keen to raise funds for them."

The pair will fly over to the Canary Islands in early December with their team, consisting of friends who have been helping them raise money.

Mr Hoyland, said: "We've got a really good team helping us but our taking part in the race has really divided some people. Some understand because they are used to doing sporting challenges but others think we are complete nutters."

To donate money or for more information visit www.rowacross-thepond.co.uk or email Richard at hoyland@bupa.com.