TEAM V3NTURE: Meet the soldiers aiming to be the first military trio to row the Atlantic
Three British Army soldiers have set their goals sky high as they hope to become the first military trio to successfully row across any ocean.
The trio, which includes Captain Rob Cross of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, Captain Charlie Newman of 7 Para Royal Horse Artillery and Captain Rob Treasure of Cyprus-based 1st Battalion the Rifles, will be taking on the World’s Toughest Row as part of TEAM V3NTURE.
They met at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 2019 and became firm friends.
They were selected to compete in a rigorous military skills competition at West Point, USA, but when that venture was curtailed by Covid, they decided to fundraise for charity by running marathons in their gardens all while wearing cricket kit.
This winter, the team will embark on their latest challenge together in what promises to be their biggest mental and physical test yet, as they aim to be the fastest trio across the Atlantic in this year's World's Toughest Row.
They will be embarking on their journey across the Atlantic Ocean in their RX45 rowing boat in mid-December, starting from La Gomera in the Canary Islands with an approximately six-week-long journey to English Harbour in Antigua in late January 2025.
The trio will be rowing to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support as well as their three regimental charities, which include the Welsh Guards Charity, the Royal Artillery Charitable Fund and Rifles Regimental Trust, with their fundraising total set at £200,000.
The team's idea of raising money for Macmillan came after a personal loss within the team.
"The boat is named Stephen after my dad who passed away from cancer just over three years ago now," Captain Treasure said.
He added: "Rob and Charlie both knew him and very kindly came on board and said 'Why don't we do this incredible challenge and why don't we do it in your dad's name but raising money for Macmillan?', which will take 70% of everything we earn as well as the three regiments charities which each take ten, ten, ten.
"I can only think that he'd be proud, he'd think that we were completely bonkers, but he was always there to support and love as is my mum and the rest of my family, and I know that that's the approach he'd take."
Captain Cross said: "We are all incredibly proud and passionate of the regiments that we serve in, so we wanted to try and give back in some way and to them.
"We want to try and help the soldiers that we serve."
The close bond within the team is what Captain Newman thinks will get the team through their toughest challenge yet.
He said: "The reason we stuck as a three is because we couldn't think of anyone else to add to the team, it's that sort of shared relationship that the three of us had.
"The similarities but also those differences that complement one another will be something that helps us get through as a team."
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