A GROUP of men are taking part in ‘The World's Toughest Row’ as the team brave the elements such as hurricane strength winds and 50ft swells.

Jon Merotra, Ewan Bell, Ed Wilson and James Protherough, former Royal Grammar School pupils, will take on the Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge in a bid to raise money for The Marine Conservation Society and The Surfrider Foundation Australia, both actively combating ocean plastic pollution.

Mr Protherough, from Worcester said: “As it stands, more people have been into space than have rowed the Atlantic.

“The added physical strain of exhaustion, sleep deprivation and possible hallucination tests the extremes of teamwork and humankind. By undertaking such an enormous challenge, our aim is to meaningfully support the amazing work our charities are doing and help turn the tide on plastic pollution.”

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He added: “Taking part in the Talisker Whisky Challenge is a unique chance to push our physical and mental endurance to new levels whilst raising money and carrying out research which will help protect the world’s oceans.”

The team hopes to complete the challenge, which is a 3,000-mile row across the Atlantic Ocean, in 40 days or less.

The annual race begins on December 12, where they will be rowing in pairs with alternating shifts of two hours rowing, followed by two hours rest - for the entire duration of the 40-day race.

To take the challenge one step further, the team have also been working in collaboration with a company called Smartfin, to adapt their innovative surfboard fin for use on their ocean rowing boat.

This will be the first time this type of data has been collected across an entire ocean by an ocean rowing boat, and the team hope it can make a significant contribution to our understanding of the oceans.

So far, the team has managed to attract an incredible range of corporate sponsors, including global brands such as Diageo, The Trade Desk and Fetch, and a range of environmentally focused brands such as ECoffee Cup.

They are also welcoming donations of any size to assist them with their mission.

For more information, contact the team via sponsor@atlanticambition.com or visit their website at www.atlanticambition.com.