A mother and her two sons from Arranmore Island are preparing to row 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean to raise funds for the RNLI. Team Trasna na dTonnta, made up of Sharon and her sons Evan and Glenn, will compete in the World's Toughest Row from La Gomera in the Canary Islands to Antigua in the Caribbean.
The crossing is expected to take between 40 and 60 days, with the family facing continuous rowing, changing weather, Atlantic swells and sleep deprivation.
The challenge has added significance as Sharon and Evan are volunteer crew members with Arranmore RNLI. Growing up on Arranmore, the family says it understands both the rewards and the risks of life at sea, making the RNLI a natural charity to support.
Across the Waves: Team Trasna na dTonnta trains aboard its ocean rowing boat as Sharon, Evan and Glenn prepare for the World's Toughest Row, a 3,000-mile Atlantic crossing in aid of the RNLI
"The sea has always been part of our lives. Living on Arranmore, you understand very quickly that the ocean can be both beautiful and unforgiving," the team said. "The RNLI is a huge part of our coastal community, and for us this challenge is a way of supporting our crews while taking on an incredible adventure together as a family."
The team's Irish name, Trasna na dTonnta, meaning Across the Waves, reflects its Arranmore roots and lifelong connection with the Atlantic. The family has now launched its campaign and is inviting individuals, businesses and communities across Donegal and Ireland to support its fundraising efforts.
Supporters will be able to follow the team's training and preparations over the coming months as it builds towards the start of the transatlantic race. Funds raised will go directly to the RNLI, which relies on public donations to continue its lifesaving work around the coasts of Ireland and the UK.
Support Trasna na dTonnta through their official website here.
