Girls in Double World Record Bid to Row Across Atlantic Unaided and Raise 1m

Six ordinary girls are launching an extraordinary endeavour ? to row the Atlantic unaided in a double world record attempt.

Competing to become the fastest female crew and the first six-woman crew to achieve the feat, the team will row 3,000 miles from the Canary Isles to Barbados.

The monumental Row For Freedom effort will also strengthen a £1million fundraising pledge and awareness campaign to help end human trafficking.

The girls’ vessel is aptly named The Guardian and is part of the world’s toughest rowing race ?the Woodvale Challenge.

The race route is no stranger to the plight for freedom; while Christopher Columbus sailed it on his discovery of America in the 15th century, in the 1800s it was used to transport slaves between the UK and the USA.  Today there are more people in slavery than ever before.  It is estimated that 27 million people, half of these children, are modern-day slaves and victims of human trafficking, which is one of the world’s largest organised crimes and generates £20billion each year.  The Row For Freedom effort is a direct response to this shocking injustice.

PHOTO: The Row For Freedom team - from left, Helen Leigh, Andrea Quigley,Kate Richardson, Julia Immonen, Debbie Beadleand Katie Pattison-Hart.

The brainchild of Julia Immonen, founder of Sport Against Trafficking, Row For Freedom’s goal is to raise £1million for charities supporting the victims of human trafficking.  Working with ECPAT UK (End Child Prostitution, Pornography and Trafficking), the not-for-profit is campaigning for the UK Government to provide safe and supported accommodation and a system of guardianship for child victims of trafficking.

Julia said: “We’ll be rowing 24 hours a day, two hours on - two hours off, for about 40 days to expose the very real problem of human trafficking.  Last year more than 700 victims were identified in the UK and without proper support and care these victims can again fall prey to traffickers and suffer additional physical, sexual and mental abuse.  We are so grateful to all our supporters, especially our lead sponsor, ManpowerGroup, who are powerful activists in the fight against human trafficking.”

Departing on their epic journey in December 2011, the team comprises Julia Immonen, Debbie Beadle, Katie Pattison-Hart, Kate Richardson, Andrea Quigley and Helen Leigh.  The girls are charity workers, models and athletes, hailing from all corners of the globe, and have each been inspired to harness the positive power of sport to raise awareness and much needed funding for projects to tackle human trafficking.

Row For Freedom has already received huge support from celebrities and politicians, and even one of the young victims of trafficking who said: “I think it is amazing that these women are doing this. It will help people to listen to us and understand what we go through. I just hope they come back safe.”

Adventurer Bear Grylls said: “I so admire the determination of these ordinary girls trying to do something extraordinary for the injustice of human trafficking. They embody the spirit of adventure - huge ambition, huge hardship and huge hearts.”

And Culture secretary Jeremy Hunt said: “I would like to congratulate you on the successful launch of Sport Against Trafficking and wish you every success in your mission to harness the positive power of community and sport to raise public awareness and funding for human trafficking.”

David Arkless, President of Global Corporate and Government Affairs at lead sponsor ManpowerGroup and President of the End Human Trafficking Now! campaign, commented: “As a Global Corporation, ManpowerGroup believes that every individual should have the right to work in a safe and dignified way, without being exploited in any way.  Our core company values lead us to fight against the exploitation of any human being, especially the vulnerable.

“I am delighted to support Row For Freedom… in our continuing efforts to eradicate the dreadful use of human beings as commodities. We remain fully committed to the cause of the individual who inadvertently or who with no choice has descended into the desperation of modern-day slavery. We call on every responsible Corporation or individual to support this great mission and the equally great effort of the Row For Freedom team.”