Three-woman crew vie for world record time in row across the Atlantic in 2021, to raise funds for cancer charities adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic

 

LONDON: A three-woman team, ExtraOARdinary, are rowing 3000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean in December 2021 as part of the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge in aid of Cancer Research UK, Macmillan Cancer Support and The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.

 

The Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge is a rowing race like no other. More people have summited Everest than have successfully rowed across the Atlantic. It is the ultimate endurance race 3000 miles across the world's second largest ocean, from La Gomera to Antigua. The crew of Kat Cordiner, Charlotte Irving and Abby Johnston will be living on a 25ft boat for up to 60 days, rowing two hours on and two hours off continuously from December 2021-January 2022.

 

The crew are undertaking this massive challenge to turn the tide on cancer and raise much-needed funds for cancer charities Cancer Research UK, Macmillan Cancer Support and The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. While the COVID-19 pandemic has had huge effect on every aspect of daily lives, cancer patients are being adversely affected by the current pandemic. 1 in 2 people in the UK will be diagnosed with the disease at some point in their lives and this is an issue that is sadly very close to home for so many – including the crew. Kat Cordiner, having already beaten cancer once, is currently battling against the disease yet again.

 

Kat Cordiner, ExtraOARdinary crew: ‘This challenge not only represents a chance for us to raise awareness of the massively detrimental impact COVID-19 has had on the diagnosis and treatment against cancer, but also to inject a much-needed fundraising boost to our charities that have missed out on their usual opportunities this year.’

 

The pandemic’s insidious impact on the treatment of cancer will have long-term and wide ranging repercussions for cancer patients and their loved ones:

 

• Delaying cancer treatment by just four weeks increases the risk of death by up to 10%, according to new research that shows the devastating impact of missed NHS treatment targets due to COVID.[1]

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• For every week that screening is paused, 7,000 people aren’t being referred for further tests and 380 cancers aren’t being diagnosed through screening programmes.[2]

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• This means that up to year 5 after diagnosis, there will be a 5-17% increase in avoidable deaths across a range of cancers as a result of the pandemic.[2]

 

And this will only increase as the UK experiences Covid-19 peaks and the NHS is under increasing strain.

 

Kat continues, ‘This challenge also represents something more - to live like I’ve never lived before. We grow up thinking we’re guaranteed 85 years of life and the ability to do what we want. I read somewhere that a cancer diagnosis helps you understand life is a gift and not a guarantee, and this creates opportunities. Even after my first diagnosis, I found I stopped stressing over a lot of things, I gained perspective on what was important, and I’m determined to make the most out of however much time I have. The challenge to row the Atlantic in aid of three epic charities with the hopes of smashing the world-record is one that the team and I are incredibly passionate about – and cancer won’t stand in our way.’

 

With just over a year to go before setting off on their journey, with a world-record time of 49 days, 13 hours, 49 minutes to beat, Kat, Charlotte and Abby are at the beginning of their rigorous training programme. With a target to raise £100k across the three charities, a number of fundraising initiatives are underway and can be followed on their website and Instagram.

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—ENDS—

 

About – Team ExtraOARdinary

 

We are just three ordinary girls, who have decided to do something EXTRAOARDINARY! Abby, Kat and Charlotte have all had a taste for adventure in the past couple of years and are now looking to push their boundaries and row the Atlantic as part of team ExtraOARdinary in 2021.

 

Team:

Kat Cordiner

Charlotte Irving

Abby Johnston

 

Contact: crew@weareextraoardinary.com

Website: https://www.weareextraoardinary.com/

Instagram: @weareextraoardinary

Go Fund Me: ExtraOARdinary Atlantic Row

 

About – Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, Atlantic Campaigns

 

Atlantic Campaigns SL is a Spanish company situated in San Sebastian de La Gomera. After taking over the organising of the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge in 2012, we have led the race forward to become the safest and most successful ocean rowing race on the planet!

 

The team behind the race brings an unparalleled level of support and knowledge with 7 ocean rows, 7 Guinness World Records and a combined total of over 50 years ocean rowing experience which is seen in the unrivalled success of the race.

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[1] ‘Four-week cancer treatment delay raises death risk by 10% – study’, The Guardian

[2] ‘The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer deaths due to delays in diagnosis in England, UK: a national, population-based, modelling study’, The Lancet.

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