A former Lynn pupil is three-quarters of the way through her enormous challenge of rowing across the Atlantic Ocean and has described it as “phenomenal but certainly insufferable at times”.
Molly Hemeter, a former King Edward VII (KES) student and head girl, has been taking part in the enormous ‘Atlantic Fusion’ challenge with her partners Annika Israelsson, Bel Noyles and Dave Fassam, in an effort to raise funds for their chosen charity Abbie’s Army.
She is now roughly three-quarters of the way along the 3,000 mile stretch of the ocean, and has said the biggest obstacle so far has been the weather.
The team (Molly third from left) have kept upbeat during their row across the Atlantic
Molly, who lives in North Wootton, said: “Mother Nature has been relentless and brutal at times making the rowing very hard mentally and physically. One of the team also had a knee infection and so couldn’t row for a few days. That was tough.
“The challenge has been phenomenal but certainly insufferable at times. It’s a brutal challenge, but that’s why it’s called the world’s toughest row.
“I’ve enjoyed it, especially the simplicity of it all and being so close to nature.”
The team before setting off on their epic journey. Molly Hemeter is second from left
Molly, 27, and the team have so far raised £17,160 via their JustGiving page. They have a £25,000 target to reach.
Each team member rows in two hour shifts 24 hours a day. Molly’s first shift of the day typically starts at around 8-10am. She will start rowing then pause for breakfast and contact her family.
“I’ll then rest a bit until my 12pm shift. By this point in the day it’s very hot so it’s all about resting eating and hydrating,” Molly said.
“The evening shifts we row and then often try get off the oars and to bed as quickly as possible to get maybe an hour and a half. We then repeat.”
The team were even rowing during the festive season, Molly Hemeter second from back
The Atlantic Fusion challenge has been three years in the making for Molly and the team, who had been constantly training to remain fit and healthy for the challenge.
All profits from the row will go to Abbie’s Army, which works to raise awareness of childhood brain cancer, more specifically Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), an aggressive hard to treat type of tumour.
“Dave’s daughters both lost a friend when she was four to the disease,” Molly added.
The team on land before setting off, Molly pictured on left
“It’s very important to us, and it’s a charity that not many people know about.
The team busy rowingMolly and the team are rowing day and nightMolly (middle) and her teammates during the World’s Toughest RowThe team have faced tough weather conditions, Molly pictured on the rightThe crew spend several hours a day rowingMolly (closest to the camera) and the team during the tough Atlantic row
“DIPG affects so many more children in the UK than people don’t know about, so being able to support it will provide so many benefits to them and the families that suffer – it’s very close to our hearts.”