Millie Frith will join fellow members ‘The Atlantic Girls’, Laura-Jayne Pattinson and Frankie Tuck, to take part in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge (TWAC), an annual ocean rowing race beginning in La Gomera in the Canary Islands and ending 3,000 miles later in Antigua and Barbuda. The race starts on December 12, 2022.
The team is raising money for The Brain Tumour Charity, a cause close to their hearts as some of the group have family and friends who have battled a brain tumour.
Millie, 28, from Chester, graduated from the University with a degree in Marketing and Event Management in 2017. During her second year she joined the University Rowing Club – the first team sport she had ever participated in – and was instantly hooked by the “teamwork, training and social life” and was voted Women’s Captain. Millie went on to lead the team to become the most successful in the University’s history.
After learning about the TWAC, Millie found an advert during lockdown on Explorers Connect and joined as the last member of The Atlantic Girls. As well as raising money for charity, the group aims to promote sustainable lifestyles to help planet and ocean health and to inspire other women to take on similar challenges.
The team works together by following a routine of two hours on the oars and one hour off for 24 hours a day. The rowers are prepared for seasickness, sleep deprivation, salt blisters and Atlantic storms which can rise as high as two double-decker buses.
Millie said: “Since 2020 we have worked hard on our campaign to reach as many people as possible. Most of our training is completed on our boat at sea.
“Our boat is the one and only of its kind; it is built entirely with the planet in mind, the world's first Eco Ocean Rowing Boat - named Vaquita. Vaquita is built using natural products, has a foam core made from 10,000 recycled plastic bottles and uses wind power as its manufacturing source. We are passionate about promoting planet health and this is the perfect personification of that.”
Millie has thanked the University for encouraging her passion for rowing. She added: "I would like to say a massive thank you to the University of Chester. I was incredibly lucky to have an amazing university experience. Rowing alongside the girls in my crew really inspired me and from this exceptional coaching I was able to start competing in life-changing challenges. I would encourage anybody that reads this to just go out there and try anything you ever thought you might like to do. Do not hold back and don't delay your time. Go out and enjoy!”
To sponsor The Atlantic Girls and follow their voyage visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/women-take-on-worlds-toughest-row-2022.
