A READING rower has been forced to abandon an extraordinary record attempt, after his boat capsized in the North Atlantic.
Aodhán Kelly was part of a six-man crew, aiming to be the first to row across the Atlantic in less than 30 days.
The 26 year old was raising money for children’s charity Plan UK, to help some of the world’s poorest girls complete their education.
“Everyone at Plan is really sad to hear that the courageous sailors on board the Sara G were unable to complete their attempt to row across the Atlantic in less than 30 days, “ says Kevin Machin, Community Fundraising Manager at Plan UK.
“Aodhán Kelly, who is one of the six-man crew, is an avid rower and a great supporter of our work.
We wish Aodhán and the team the very best. We are glad to hear he and the rest of the crew are safe.”
The crew were 27 days into their journey from Morocco to Barbados when the boat overturned, 520 miles from their destination.
They were picked up by a cargo ship after more than 14 hours in a rescue raft and are due to arrive in Gibraltar on February 9.
Before he departed, Aodhán told Plan UK about his fears for the trip.
“I have had my ups and downs with nerves and anxiety about this. We need to be prepared for the worst case scenarios, but there is no point dwelling on them,” explained Aidan
“I have heard lots of stories about wild sea life attacking rowing crews and one crew having a spear shaped snout of a giant marlin stuck in the side of their boat – and plenty of tales about vessels capsizing.”
“My mam and dad are quite nervous but they are not surprised about me taking this on,” he added.
“Aodhán used to row for the Irish national team and had been preparing for the trip for a long time – training daily at his local club in Reading,” says Kevin Machin.
“He fell in love with rowing at the age of 10 and is an incredibly determined and admirable sportsman.”
To find out more about Aodhán’s epic challenge, visit http://www.atlantic2012.com
To follow Aodhán on twitter go to http://twitter.com/atlantic_2012
To contact Plan UK’s press office please call 020 3217 0234 or 020 3217 0257 or email ukmedia@plan-international.org
For more information on sponsoring a child with Plan call 0300 777 9777 or visit www.plan-uk.org
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Notes to editors
About Plan
1) Plan is a global children’s charity. We work with children in the world’s poorest countries to help them build a better future. A future you would want for all children, your family and friends. For over 70 years we’ve been taking action and standing up for every child’s right to fulfill their potential by:
• giving children a healthy start in life, including access to safe drinking water
• securing the education of girls and boys
• working with communities to prepare for and survive disasters
• inspiring children to take a lead in decisions that affect their lives
• enabling families to earn a living and plan for their children’s future.
We do what’s needed, where it’s needed most. We do what you would do. With your support children, families and entire communities have the power to move themselves from a life of poverty to a future with opportunity.
www.plan.org.uk
2) We work with children in 50 of the world’s poorest countries to help them build a better future.
3) Plan was founded by British journalist John Langdon-Davies in 1937 to rescue orphans and other vulnerable children from the Spanish Civil War.
4) We have over 100,000 sponsors in the UK, generating £24 million a year, and 1 million sponsored children worldwide.
5) Sponsorship starts at £15-a-month and, rather than going to individual children and their families, funds projects to improve schooling, health, nutrition and livelihoods across communities.