Student news

2 Boys in a Boat

An Edinburgh student is set to become part of the youngest team to ever row across the Atlantic, raising money for charity at the same time.

Third year geography student Luke Birch, 21, and his childhood friend Jamie Sparks, also 21, will begin their row, described as ‘the world’s toughest endurance race’, on 2nd December 2013.

Luke Birch and Jamie Sparks

The pair are one of sixteen teams entered in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, rowing more than 3,000 nautical miles between the Canary Islands and Antigua in around 50 days. The challenge is incredibly gruelling: the boys will be rowing non-stop in two hour shifts, burning around 10,000 calories a day with only one tiny cabin for shelter.

Fewer people have completed this challenge than have climbed Mount Everest, or gone into space.

Fundraising

As well as attempting to break a world record as the youngest team to complete the challenge, the pair are aiming to raise £100,000 for Breast Cancer Care.

You can sponsor Luke and Jamie by visiting their JustGiving page.

Follow their progress

Once the row gets started, you will be able to follow the boys’ journey online:

Related Links

Breast Cancer Care