Women rowers reach half-way point round Britain

Seagals expect to finish charity race in July

A Group of determined women are rowing the dangerous route around the coast of Great Britain in aid of the charity, Help for Heroes.

The team of four women left from under Tower Bridge, London on June 1st alongside a team of four men. The men’s team was forced to drop out two weeks later after they found their boat could not withstand the strong head winds.

The women have just passed the half way mark after braving terrible northerly winds at Lands End.

The men's team, lead by Falkland veteran John Mollinson, 50, who lost half of his right leg after standing on a landmine, was devastated to leave the challenge.

The women’s team, at their lowest point could only row four miles in the tough winds but made it through. The wind has now dropped and the girls are set to row towards Jura and on to Oban before they turn onto the East Coast.

They will be rowing an astonishing 60 to 70 miles per day now that they can get into their stride.

The group, named the SeaGals, is expected to finish in early July. It is made up of Belinda Kirk, 34 from Bristol, Angela Madsen, 50, from California, Beverly Ashton, 29, of Oxfordshire and Laura Thomasson, 23, from Dover and who currently works as a Royal Navy Nurse and is due to serve in Afghanistan.

Madsen joined the US Marine Corps but was medically discharged from the military at 20 after injuring her spine in a basketball accident. Thirteen years later, a botched operation on her spine left her wheelchair-bound. She now teaches disabled children how to row.

The men's team - known as The Misfits - included Olly Hicks, 28, from Oxfordshire, John Mollison from Perth, David Rowe, 48, from Blairgowrie and Jack Jones, 27, from the Wirral.

Hicks has already become the first person to row solo across the Atlantic and the youngest person to row an ocean, amongst other achievements.

The women's team has already raised over £1,800 and the boys £1,300. This year’s attempt at the Virgin GB Row is a prelude to what is set to come next year.

Organisers hope to have over 30 participants in 2011 and are looking for intrepid explorers to take part.

To find out more visit www.gbrowchallenge.com , where you can make donations to support its chosen charity.