One Family, One Boat, One Mission

We are the Ash family. Charlotte, Camilla, James and Henry. We are rowing the Atlantic in memory of Robert, our husband, father and friend who we lost to suicide in September 2023. We are raising £300,000 for Suicide&Co.

Watch our video here.

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The Challenge

3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean in December 2027. The world’s first complete family unit to take on this challenge together. We will be a self-sufficient team, powered by determination, grit, hope, and freeze dried food as we head from La Gomera to Antigua. Are we terrified? Yes. Do we know how to row an ocean? Not yet. Will we manage? With your help, yes.

3,000 Miles Unsupported

  • Training: 2 years of intensive training

  • Expected Time at Sea: 35-60 days 

  • Oar Strokes: 1.5 million (minimum)

  • Calories Burn Per Person, Per Day: 5000+

  • Fundraising Target: £300,000

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For Suicide&Co.

Your donations will provide:

  • More than 6,600 professional counselling sessions for people bereaved by suicide.

    Or

  • 12,500 hours of emotional support provided by their Suicide Bereavement Advisors.

This funding will support hundreds of people navigating their grief. This row is about more than miles; it's about making sure no one grieves alone.

A third of donations will be used to cover the essential costs of this monumental challenge, with the remainder going to Suicide&Co.

FAQs

  • There are a few different factors which have influenced our logo. Robert loved his music, so the five lines represent a music stave. The five lines also represent the five of us, with the bottom line being a different shape, representing that Robert is still with us but his presence is different now. The curved bottom line also represents the ocean.

  • Most people think so, yes! But we are more determined than ever to do this challenge to raise awareness about something which is still such a taboo subject in society. We are also confident that, however hard this is going to be, it will never be as difficult as what Robert went through. It is this that keeps us going.

  • We are doing a huge amount of safety training as well as fitness and endurance training to be as sure as we can be that we can manage whatever the ocean throws at us. We will be practising in challenging conditions and we will have protocols to follow. So we should be able to manage tough situations. If we get into trouble and really need help we can call to be rescued by the World’s Toughest Row team or a nearby boat!

  • No. The World’s Toughest Row rules are that the crossing has to be completely unaided throughout, so we will be counting our food supplies carefully before we depart! We are also not allowed to leave anything in the ocean, and our kit is checked at the end to make sure nothing has been lost overboard.

  • Washing is done in a bucket with ocean friendly soaps. Cooking is a lot of freeze dried meals and a tiny camping stove (we think!). Loo is a bucket. No further details provided on that!

  • The weather can be anything and everything from glassy water and not a breath of wind to huge storms and 30 foot waves. We are hoping for some tailwinds to help us on our 3,000 mile journey.

  • Yes but we hope that it won’t. The boats are very safe and are self-righting so if we do capsize then the boat should go back to the right way up. Capsizing is not common.

  • We will be rowing in 2 hour shifts so that the boat is constantly moving (hopefully!), and sleeping in between, also in shifts.

Our Sponsors

Interested in being part of our journey? Your support means the world to us. If you or your company are interested in helping us on this challenge, please do get in touch with us at ashfamilyrow@gmail.com.