A Stirling woman is to row 3,000 miles across the Atlantic to raise money for three charities.
Pilates instructor Sabrina Simpson will be joined by Leanne Maiden for the feat later this year.
Leanne and Sabrina, who call themselves She rOars, had never rowed before they signed up to the challenge during lockdown, in February 2021.
They need to raise £200,000 to complete the race and donate to their three charities – The Women’s Fund for Scotland, The Polar Academy and The Mabel Foundation.
So far, they have £75,000 from a range of sponsors and donors including Lanarkshire bakery Tunnock’s.
The challenge starts at La Gomera in the Canaries on December 12 when they will row 3,000 miles across the Atlantic to Antigua in the Caribbean.
They’ll row two hours on, two hours off 24 hours a day.
Forty-four-year-old Sabrina said: “The record we are trying to beat is 45 days but the estimated time for the journey is 50-60 days.
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“We’re so grateful to Tunnock’s for their cash injection.
“We’ll eat freeze-dried food during the challenge but have a huge supply of caramel wafers on board to keep us going.”
Mum-of two, Leanne (41), an osteopath, of Bearsden, said: “We’re training hard on rowing machines and on the rivers and lochs of Scotland, before we move on to the Irish Sea, the western side of Scotland and the Caledonian Canal.” Sir Boyd Tunnock, 90, ‘launched’ the She rOars vessel at the firm’s Uddingston factory last Friday.
Sir Boyd, who skippers his own yacht Lemarac (caramel spelled backwards) said: “Only 13 pairs of women have ever attempted this feat.
“It’s a test of endurance and skill, rowing two hours on two hours off, for up to 60 days.
“I’m inspired by the girls and their tenacity… and I’m delighted to be backing their campaign.”
To donate visit www.she-roars.com.
