Make your home sparkle this Christmas

Karen Neville

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Karen Neville

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Infuse your interiors with Christmas home styling tips for a festive makeover by award-winning South Oxfordshire interior designer Holly Scott

Christmas is the perfect time to create a warm, inviting home for gathering with loved ones. Holly shares her design tips whether you’re hosting festive get-togethers or simply adding seasonal charm, these ideas will bring warmth and sophistication to every corner of your home.

1. Choose a theme for a cohesive look

Select a colour palette or style that flows throughout your decor. A traditional red and green theme creates nostalgic warmth, while a silver and white palette lends a modern, sleek feel. Consistency from the tree to smaller accents like candles and wreaths will give your home a harmonious, polished look.

2. Garlands for instant festive style

Garlands add natural elegance and warmth and can be placed in various spots, layer or double up for a full, luxurious look.

• Windows and banisters: Frame windows or wrap stair banisters with garlands to spread cheer throughout.
• Table centrepieces: Use garlands down the centre of the table, enhanced with sprigs of greenery and fairy lights for a magical touch.
• Mantels: Draping garlands across the fireplace gives a cosy, welcoming feel.

3. Wreaths beyond the front door

Hang wreaths on interior doors, walls, or mirrors to spread festive spirit. Try a wreath as a centrepiece with candles nestled in the middle for a unique touch that connects seamlessly with your decor.

4. Make your Christmas tree shine

Your Christmas tree is the focal point of holiday décor. Start with plenty of lights to create a warm, welcoming glow. For balance, place larger baubles at the base and smaller ones towards the top. Mix textures and shapes for added depth, and consider using florist wire instead of string for a neat, secure finish.

5. Style a festive dining table

The dining table is the heart of festive gatherings. Place a runner or garland down the centre, layered with fairy lights, greenery, and candles of varying heights. Keep the food on a side table to let your decor shine, add crackers or mini gifts at each place setting for a charming touch.

6. Add whimsical festive details

Little touches can elevate your home, adopt a “more is more” approach: Drape fairy lights around door frames, inside lanterns, or across shelves for a cosy glow; fill bowls or vases with extra baubles for easy, eye-catching accents; hang small ornaments from candelabras to add festive whimsy.

Holly Scott is an award-winning interior designer, specialising in creating bespoke, elegant interiors. With 20 years of experience, including styling for Harrods and Ralph Lauren, Holly brings a refined, sophisticated approach to every project. Her design style focuses on blending comfort with luxury, ensuring every space feels lived-in yet timeless.

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Young entrepreneurs wanted for Sobell Accumulator

Karen Neville

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Karen Neville

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Sobell House Hospice Charity have launched a new challenge for young people in Oxfordshire to develop and showcase their entrepreneurial skills

The Sobell Accumulator is an enterprise project for secondary schools, colleges, guiding and scouting groups running from Thursday, 16th January until Thursday, 22nd May.

Participating organisations will be given a seed fund of £50 that their young people will re-invest to raise money for Sobell House Hospice, until they reach their chosen fundraising target. The deadline to register is Monday, 2nd December 2024.

Activate Learning were one of the first to sign up. Aino Halla said: “Participating in the Sobell Accumulator is a fantastic opportunity for Activate Learning students to make a meaningful impact while developing their skills. This philanthropic project aims to raise funds for a local hospice that supports individuals with life-limiting illnesses. By participating, students will gain invaluable experience and face an ambitious challenge that complements their studies. Led by our Student Leadership Team, this initiative promises to be immensely rewarding, offering all students the chance to contribute to a noble cause and enhance their personal and professional growth.”

There’s lots of benefits for students and organisations to take part, including developing skills such as managing money, fundraising, leadership, creativity, project management and teamwork. They will also get the opportunity to work with a business mentor, benefit from networking opportunities with other participants and business mentors and selected students from the winning organisations will get to go on air with Get Radio!

There are only 30 places available with Abingdon School, Abingdon & Witney College, Activate Learning, The Cherwell School, Cheney School and The Iffley Academy already signing up. It’s a brilliant opportunity for any group of students who want to dive further into the world of business, fundraising or project management.

To sign up by December  2nd go to The Sobell Accumulator – Sobell House

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Village Spirit Collective community

Karen Neville

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Karen Neville

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Village spirit is alive and well in Hambledon where under the guidance of Ian Cox, the Village Spirit Collective offers two locally inspired gins – Vann Lane Gin and Haslemere Gin

There’s nothing like an artisan gin. They all have their own unique flavour, often with strong connections to where they are distilled and that’s certainly the case for those from the Village Spirit Collective. 

The collective gathers local ’ginfluencers®’ to assist in the development by contributing to the flavour profiles giving the spirit a true ‘community spirit’. 

The expanding range includes Vann Lane Gin, a contemporary London Dry with citrus and spice botanicals, Haslemere Gin, a lighter elderflower and lemon gin, limited edition seasonal specials such as Summer Spirit and Winter Spirit and gin liqueurs (such as Raspberry Gin Liqueur and Toffee Apple Gin Liqueur. 

Based near the village of Hambledon in the Old Coal Yard, Vann Lane Gin reflects the character of the village earning its name from the road that runs through the village. When coming up with the name, the ginfluencers wanted to convey that it was a “quintessentially idyllic English village, complete with cricket green, country pub and summer fete, yet at the same time was quirky and unexpected”. Classic juniper gives way to warm coriander and sweet orange, fresh kaffir lime and unexpected notes of cardamom and cubeb pepper. Traditional but contemporary, just like the village. 

Haslemere ginfluencers explored 20 botanicals and combinations to create the flavour of Haslemere Gin Community Spirit which blends classic juniper with coriander, lemon, elderflower, ginger, cubeb pepper, liquorice and cassia. 

The Village Spirit Collective is owned and run by Ian Cox, who left a city job to enjoy a better life-work balance. Ian produces everything himself by hand in his micro-batch distillery – from crushing the botanicals and distilling to labelling and distribution. 

“We use a vapour infusion process in our micro-distillery which features a bespoke state of the art copper column still,” says Ian. “This method of gin production is certainly not the fastest but we believe it results in more subtle and nuanced flavours.” 

With Christmas looming why not try the Vann Lane Winter Spirit with the seasonal flavours of ginger, cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg – Christmas in a glass! 

All gins come beautifully packaged with gift sets available and monthly gin subscription plans (a great gift idea for the gin lover in your family). Or how about a distillery experience? Learn about distillation and create your very own gin! Try 20 different botanicals, rate them and combine your favourites to blend your perfect gin and tonic. You can even purchase a bottle to take home. Look out for them at Petworth Christmas Cracker on December 7th too. 

Find out more and shop for gifts (and yourself) at Village Spirit Collective | Gin | Experiences | Bar

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Thriving community for women with cancer

Karen Neville

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Karen Neville

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Breast cancer thriver and cancer carer Charmian D’Aubosson has launched The Thrive Tribe, a new supportive community gathering for women aged 18-50, impacted by cancer

The inaugural meeting of The Thrive Tribe was held at Cassidy’s Bar in Alton in October, we asked Charmian to tell us more about The Thrive Tribe, what the thinking is behind it, who it’s for and how women can benefit from it. 

“I set up The Thrive Tribe with the sole purpose of providing a safe, caring community for other women impacted by cancer, something I didn’t have access to when I was going through cancer. The aim is to be a different kind of cancer peer support group by creating a welcoming, safe space run by women, for women where we can come together to laugh, enjoy fun activities and focus on the brighter moments (even finding humour in the darker ones). I believe that when we can be our authentic selves, with people who truly understand, it’s like a huge weight has been lifted.  

“Rather than sitting quietly discussing our diagnoses there’ll be fun stuff such as quizzes, craft workshops, mocktail tastings, wellness events and more. There’ll also be the opportunity to chat, get support and be around others going through similar experiences. 

“Wherever a person is on their cancer journey, they’ll be welcomed into the group and invited to be part of a caring, non-judgemental and fun community.  

“Cassidy’s Bar is kindly hosting our monthly meetings where attendance is free, just buy a drink and/or a snack. Workshop events might incur a charge from the workshop host which will be communicated in advance. Attendance at monthly meetings or events is without obligation. We look forward to welcoming new members to our community so please do share with anyone you know who’d benefit.” 

Charmian holds an Accredited Diploma as a Transformative Life Coach and is an Associate of the International Coaching Federation. She has a passion for supporting individuals going through cancer so that they feel supported, heard and empowered each step of the way. Charmian also partners with organisations to support them to work better with cancer, improving the wellbeing of those impacted by cancer in the workplace. 

In addition to coaching, Charmian works as a yoga teacher in the local community and offers private yoga for cancer classes. In her spare time, she loves being out in nature either walking or cycling and her happy place is anywhere in the mountains. Charmian lives in Alton with her husband and two dogs. 

If you’d like to know more, if you have any questions about The Thrive Tribe, or you’d like to sign up to join one of the monthly meetings, please visit: Charmian D’Aubosson | Transformative Life Coaching

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Visit under land with String Nix

Karen Neville

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Karen Neville

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Carol Wiltshire tells us what led her to launch her own range of eco-friendly thongs and what she loves about life in Farnham, including shopping! 

Life is so fast… But entrepreneur Carol is a campaigner for the #slowfashion movement. Earlier this year she launched String Nix, a luxury ladies’ underwear brand with sustainable heart.  

“We’re all about organic and sustainable fabrics and slow fashion,” she tells us, “because looking good and feeling good about what you wear should go hand in hand.” 

Carol lived in Long Sutton before moving to Farnham three years ago. “Farnham was always our go-to for socialising and shopping living here, so when the right house came along, we jumped at the chance to settle in this charming market town” she says. 

“While we don’t have any pets, Farnham Park is my personal paradise! This nature reserve and medieval deer park is a magical place where I can unwind with a walk—and who knows, maybe I’ll spot a deer or two!” 

Carol is a big fan of shopping locally. “Farnham has a couple of lovely little clothing boutiques that always manage to surprise me with hidden gems,” she says. “And this year, we’ve been blessed with The White Company and Jo Malone and there’s also Space NK – what’s not to love about pampering yourself while supporting local businesses? 

“Lion & Lamb Yard is my absolute favourite – it’s a cosy pedestrianised street filled with coffee shops, restaurants, and a fabulous little wine bar called The Wine Yard. And for a more indulgent experience, the Four Seasons Hotel is my go-to for a celebratory glass of fizz, especially around the festive season. 

“I love everything about Farnham but if I were to pin down my favourite aspect it would be the view from my back garden… rolling green fields, a flock of black sheep and the occasional deer wandering past, It’s like living in a postcard!” 

If you’re looking for pressies (or to treat yourself), String Nix promises the most comfortable thong you will ever wear… without causing harm to the world. “We believe beauty should never come at the cost of our planet, which is why we meticulously select the finest fabrics. We hold ourselves to the highest standards, uusing GOTS [Global Organic Textile Standard] certified organic cotton and GRS [Global Recycled Standard] certified recycled materials so you can be assured your purchase is making a positive impact on the world. 

“Choosing String Nix isn’t just about buying undies; it’s about making a statement. it’s about saying yes to fashion that not only looks good but also does good. With our beautifully crafted pieces, you can embrace your curves with confidence, knowing you’re supporting a brand that cares about you, the planet and the future.” 

Visit String Nix – Luxury, Organic Ladies Underwear – STRING NIX and follow @stringnix on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok. 

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A Shed load of festive fun

Karen Neville

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Karen Neville

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Bring your friends and family and enjoy the magic of Christmas at The Shed, Bordon

Embrace the holiday spirit with enchanting festivities across the big Christmas weekend at The Shed starting with the Christmas party on Saturday, 7th December.

Get your glad rags on and head over to The Shed for a night of Christmas tunes from the Lee Aaron band from 7.30pm. The Lee Aaron band are an explosive energetic cover party band with a difference with a repertoire that includes music both old and new, this is a Christmas party with a rock twist. Think The Doobie Brothers, The Killers, David Bowie, Wings, Bryan Adams, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, The Weekend, U2, James Brown, Van Halen, Andy Williams, The Who, Stevie Wonder, Billy Idol, Muse, Deep Purple, Alice Cooper… just to name a few! This is a free event so just bring yourself, your friends, your moves and festive cheer.

Enjoy The Shed’s annual Christmas Market on 8th December from 12-6pm. With live music, local treats and a naughty elf causing mischief, it’s the perfect excuse to wrap up warm, grab a hot chocolate or toddy and get in the festive spirit!

With over 30 stalls this year, The Shed’s Christmas Market will be bigger than ever! From crocheted goods and boardgames, jewellery, ceramics and handmade carvings, to traybakes, chilli sauces, home cook meal kits and fresh fruit and veg boxes, the market will be packed full of gift ideas and local fayre.

From 12pm-2.30pm the kids will be overjoyed to pet, groom and enjoy story time with the donkeys of Pony Pals, then explore Santa’s magical grotto to meet the man himself. And Santa Paws will be providing Christmas treats for your four-legged friends, meaning all the family members, even the furry ones, are welcome at the Market.

The festive soundtracks for the day will be provided by Chris Roberts from 12.15-1.15pm, followed by Life Spring Church singing Christmas carols from 1.30-2.30pm. As the evening draws in, Dixon Duo will be heralding visitors with Christmas covers from 4.00-4.45pm and to bring the Market to a close from 5.00-6.00pm we’ll have the dulcet tones of vintage 1940s singer Stephanie Belle.

Showcase your vocal talents in a special Christmas themed open mic night on 19th December where local performers will sing a cover, or their very own Christmas original! Discover new local talent and have a very festive evening at The Shed. 

Calling all performers! Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a budding singer-songwriter, you’re invited to join The Shed’s open mic night event. Sign up starts at 7.45pm with 15 minute slots available. Get ready to showcase your talent at our upcoming Christmas themed night, and don’t miss this fantastic opportunity to share your music with a supportive and welcoming audience.

With a rush of new businesses opening in time for Christmas there is plenty of fresh food and more to explore at The Shed. WBRC is looking forward to welcoming you to this December, as well as providing a central community hub where people of all ages can meet up to enjoy activities and some great food  across the festive period.

Find out more at Upcoming Events at TheShedWB

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Surrey Wildlife Big Give Christmas Challenge

Karen Neville

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Image: Vaughn Matthews

Karen Neville

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Help Surrey’s nature bounce back this Christmas – world-beating heathland habitats need your help and every donation will be doubled this December

Wildlife lovers in Surrey can make a gift with double the impact this Christmas, thanks to an appeal by Surrey Wildlife Trust with the backing on the philanthropic Big Give Christmas Challenge.

Surrey Wildlife Trust’s 100 for Heathlands Campaign – part of its urgent Save Surrey’s Nature appeal – is aiming to raise £100,000 for our county’s rare and threatened heathland environments – habitats that support a huge range of animal and plant life that can’t thrive elsewhere, from Nightjars and Sand Lizards to wildflowers, butterflies and the small-but-ferocious Heath Tiger Beetle.

Image: Nick Upton

From midday on Tuesday 3rd December to midday on Tuesday 10th December, contributions from members of the public up to a total of £25,000 will be doubled by a match funding pot of £25,000, made up of £12,500 from Big Give Champions and £12,5000 from pledgers Kia UK – potentially enabling SWT to raise a total of £50,000 towards its target.

Sadly, more than 86 per cent of Surrey’s lowland heathlands have been lost in the last two centuries, with those that remain requiring careful management to survive the impact of climate change, pollution, the over-growth of dominant plants and excessive development. As well as working with volunteers, conservation experts and local communities to keep Surrey’s heaths in top condition, SWT wants to create new corridors of good habitat to make Surrey’s landscapes more resilient, help wildlife find safe places to live and prevent the fragmentation of these special places.

The Trust is even exploring the reintroduction of native species like Beavers, Black Grouse and Red Deer to restore heathland ecosystems to their full potential for wildlife and people, and plans to carry thorough studies to assess the feasibility of these initiatives.

Surrey Wildlife Trust’s Director of Reserves Management James Herd, who leads conservation work on heaths including Barossa, Pirbright Ranges, Whitmoor Common and Chobham Common says: “Helping protect our beautiful local heathlands is a great way to create some good news this Christmas. Nature faces immense challenges, but we have big plans to turn things around. If we all do what we can for the places we care about, we can ensure that wildlife has a secure home for generations to come – and that will be good for every one of us.”

What your donation can do:

£10 helps maintain areas of bare ground on heathland reserves to benefit insects and reptiles. 

£25 pays for a conservation grazing animal to graze a site for a week, keeping it in good condition for nature. 

£36 will pay for a habitat survey to ensure we are doing the right thing for particular species. 

£165 pays for one hectare of heathland management on Whitmoor common. 

£300 pays for a tree popper, an important piece of equipment for scrub clearance used by Reserve officers and volunteer groups. 

£1,200 pays for 4 hectares of heathland restoration and management on Chobham common.

Donate and find out more about Save Surrey’s Nature and the 100 for Heathlands appeal at www.surreywildlifetrust.org/save-nature

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Swashbuckling sounds from Opera Anywhere

Karen Neville

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Karen Neville

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Join Opera Anywhere for The Pirates of Penzance in Camberley and you’ll enjoy a memorable night and come out humming the tunes

A very special performance of Gilbert’s & Sullivan’s The Pirate of Penzance will be held in Camberley, to celebrate Surrey Heath’s 50th anniversary.

This concert at Kings International College, GU15 2PQ on Friday, 6th December honours the borough’s most notable figure, Sir Arthur Sullivan, the composer behind The Pirates of Penzance and the beloved Savoy operas. Sullivan spent part of his childhood in Camberley, residing in a cottage on London Road – sadly now a fast food drive-thru – while his father served as bandmaster at Sandhurst Military College nearby.

Beginning Tuesday 3rd, Opera Anywhere – one of the UK’s premier professional touring companies specialising in Gilbert & Sullivan – will work with Kings International students to join the chorus in The Pirates of Penzance.

An unfortunate case of mishearing initiates the plot for The Pirates of Penzance, resulting in a dramatic change of direction for Frederic who sets a course to become a pirate rather than a ‘pilot’! The twists and turns of this classic operetta, written in 1879, unfold with ingenious characters, sublime lyrics and some of the best-known songs in opera including the very familiar Major General’s Song.

Opera Anywhere is passionate about producing accessible, innovative and entertaining opera and operetta for all ages. Their mission is to make joyous, family-friendly, high-quality live music available to as many people as possible. They believe music is for everyone, and have a strong tradition of outreach work, community events (including come-and-sing performances) and educational projects. Opera Anywhere love to collaborate with music clubs and choral societies, schools and orchestras for combined performances.

The team of professional singers and instruments give over 65 opera performances throughout the UK every year. You’ll find them in theatres, schools, galleries and museums, at festivals, on punts, and even in the woods!

This production of The Pirates of Penzance is generously supported by Frimley Fuel Allotments, Surrey Heath Council, and Camberley Rotary.

To book tickets for this special performance visit Opera Anywhere presents The Pirates of Penzance Tickets, Fri, Dec 6, 2024 at 7:00 PM | Eventbrite

For more about Opera Anywhere and their work and upcoming productions, please go to Opera Anywhere – Professional Touring Opera across the UK

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Cards for Good Causes Newbury

Karen Neville

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Karen Neville

As the festive season approaches, why not make your Christmas shopping count for more this year?

Cards For Good Causes has returned to Newbury for 2024, offering you the chance to support both charities and the local community with every card or gift you purchase.

The charity welcomes you to step into a world of festive magic at Barclays Bank, 23-26 Park Way, to discover an enchanting array of greeting cards, advent calendars and a wider range of gifts than ever before, which are sure to ignite your holiday spirit. But the experience doesn’t end there – explore a stunning selection of gift wrap, decorations, stationery and homeware, all while making a meaningful difference to the causes and communities you care about.

Every purchase supports both national charities and your local community. Over the last decade, Cards For Good Causes has raised more than £22.5 million for a network of over 100 charities, including NSPCC, RSPCA, WaterAid, Shelter, Carers UK and The Ramblers. In addition, they’ve contributed over £2.7 million to local churches, libraries and community projects – ensuring your purchases make a difference close to home.

Christine Ansell, CEO of Cards For Good Causes says: “In these times when every penny counts, we’re delighted to offer shoppers in Newbury a unique opportunity to support charities that are changing lives while also strengthening local communities. Thanks to our committed partners, seasonal staff and local volunteers, we’re returning to the hearts of neighbourhoods across the country, providing a meaningful way for people to give this Christmas.”

The Newbury pop up opens Mon-Fri 9.30am – 2.45pm and Saturdays 9.30am – 12.45pm, and is open until Friday, 20th December.

Can’t make it to your local pop-up? The full range is available online with same-day dispatch and free shipping on orders over £40: Charity Cards and Gifts

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World’s Toughest Row across the Atlantic

Karen Neville

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Karen Neville

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Friends Karl and Ed from Ascot are preparing to set off for the Canary Islands, but their trip will be no holiday as the pair get set to row 3,000 miles across the Atlantic

Spare a thought for Karl Austen and Ed Shaw as you tuck into your turkey and enjoy Christmas with family and friends, the intrepid duo will be crossing the Atlantic as part of the World’s Toughest Row.

The friends are embarking on the 3,000 mile challenge from La Gomera in the Canary Islands to English Harbour in Antigua, starting on December 12th with the aim of raising funds for Dementia UK and Prostate Cancer UK, which have special meaning for the pair. Both have parents suffering from these awful diseases.

Their boat has now shipped to the start point and Karl and Ed, as team 2Stroke, will join her on November 30th. They have spent most of the summer travelling up and down to Portland for on water training while much of the last few weeks have been spent preparing and packing the boat – food, clothing and equipment – and going through extensive lists to make sure they have everything covered.

“As the race draws near it is all very ‘real’ now but we’re actually not nervous,” says Karl. “As we have spent over 250 hours on the boat training we feel well prepared. As they say, ‘Confidence is built through evidence’. We can’t wait to get out to La Gomera where we will have lots of briefings, safety meetings, kit inspections and then final packing of the boat. We will also take the boat out in the Atlantic waters for final safety checks post shipping before we set off.”

Both Karl and Ed will take turns on the oars, two hours on and two hours off, undertaking their two hour shifts for a minimum of 12 hours per day each, and never sleeping for more than two hours at a time. “Our only contact with the world will be via a satellite phone, as the race is completely unassisted and we will carry everything we need for up to two months at sea in our Rannoch R25 rowing vessel. From the dangers of 40ft waves and sea sickness, to Marlin strikes and salt sores, The World’s Toughest Row is the ultimate test of physical and mental endurance!

“The challenge will strip us of all the comforts of modern life and test every part of our mental and physical resilience; it is the ultimate test.”

They’ll be posting regular updates and wills end small video and voice notes via satellite to their ground crew. Follow their progress on Instagram @2stroke.team

For more of their story and to donate visit their website at 2stroke.team and at Fundraiser by Edward Shaw : 2 Stroke – Atlantic Challenge, 3000 miles unassisted row

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