A Leicestershire based businessman has committed to rowing unsupported across the Atlantic in memory of his daughter, who passed away suddenly at the age of 25.
Andrew Osborne, 56, will be taking on the gruelling 3,000+ mile challenge to raise money for CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young), after losing his daughter Amy to an undiagnosed heart condition back in 2018.
Amy’s death at the age of 25, left Mr Osborne and his family devastated.
“There were no warning signs.” he said. “She was young and healthy and her death was completely unexpected,” he said of Amy’s death from arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy.
“She died in her sleep – she literally just didn’t wake up.”
After losing Amy, Mr Osborne and his family received support from CRY, a charity which offers lifesaving screenings to over 300,000 young people (aged 35 and under) a year.
In order to give back to the charity, Mr Osborne, a Leicestershire based businessman with a sailing background, plans to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean – a challenge which will see him cover over 3,000 miles and spend more than 90 days at sea.
He aims to raise £100,000 for CRY, as a result of his ‘Row for Amy’ – something which will be an “extremely significant challenge – both mentally and physically.”
Mr Osborne is due to set off in December and hopes to arrive at a bar in Antigua in April.
He he expected to make 1.5 million oar strokes as he travels across the Atlantic.
“Rowing alone for 3,000 miles with 3 miles of the Atlantic below me and the nearest person to me being on the international space station, it’s a daunting prospect but I’m excited to get rowing for CRY and for my daughter Amy,” he said of the challenge.
“More people have climbed Everest or been into space than have successfully rowed an ocean. It will take me around 90 days to complete the worlds toughest row whilst having to deal with the weather, the waves, the solitude and the lack of fresh food and water.
“To cross the Atlantic, which at its deepest is 5 miles deep in my 20 foot row boat, I will have to row over 1.5 million oar strokes and eat over 5000 calories a day whilst still losing over 20 per cent of my body weight,” he went on to reveal.
“But if I can raise enough funds for CRY to test hundreds of children and therefore prevent the tragic loss to a family of a much loved child, then it will have all been worth every pull on the oars and every mile of the journey.”
According to CRY, about 12 people under the age of 35 die a week in the UK from undiagnosed heart conditions.
“What Andrew Osborne has pledged to do in memory of his daughter Amy is truly incredible,” said Dr Steven Cox, Chief executive of the charity.
“We have always had inspiring support from families- such as Amy’s family – who’ve been affected by sudden cardiac death, and I always find it so humbling that despite their own experience, bereaved families feel able to support us through amazing awareness-raising efforts and fundraising challenges – such as the rowing event which Amy’s dad, Andrew Osborne has pledged to take part in.
“It will raise awareness of young sudden cardiac death and the importance of screening as well as vital raise funds which will help to save young lives.”
To donate to Mr Osborne’s fundraising effort, which has £37,523 so far, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/rowforamy
All funds raised by the Atlantic row will be donated to CRY. Visit: https://www.rowforamy.com/
