Invictus Atlantic Grand Ball Raises Over £50,000 for Adolescent Mental Health

A ballroom transformed for a cause

More than 200 guests filled the newly refurbished ballroom at the Falmouth Hotel on Friday 28th November for the Invictus Atlantic Grand Ball, an evening that ended with over £50,000 raised for the Invictus Trust. The money will help strengthen adolescent mental health support in Cornwall, including the work of the county’s first dedicated inpatient unit.

📷Invictus Atlantic Grand Ball - Dave, Paul, Luke, James

A charity shaped by loss and focused on change

The Invictus Trust began in 2011, founded by the family of a young Cornish man who died due to mental illness. The Cowburn family set out to promote better understanding of adolescent mental health and to ensure support is available to families facing similar heartbreak.

What started with information, signposting and school outreach has grown into one of Cornwall’s leading voices for young people’s mental health. The charity’s long-running campaign helped deliver the Sowenna Centre in Bodmin, Cornwall’s first purpose-built adolescent inpatient unit.

The Trust now works with Clear Counselling, a specialist service providing adolescent mental health support. Together, they aim to make professional counselling easier and quicker to access, and free for any young person who needs it. More information about the Trust is available at invictustrust.co.uk.

📷INVICTUS ATLANTIC completed the WORLD’S TOUGHEST ROW - ATLANTIC 2024. - Credit: World’s Toughest Row

Rowing the Atlantic for Cornwall’s young people

A huge part of the support came from Invictus Atlantic, a four-man Cornish crew who completed a 3,000 nautical mile row across the Atlantic. They set off from La Gomera in late 2024, joining around 35 other boats in the race to Antigua.

Their challenge lasted 45 days, 9 hours and 14 minutes, with two-hour rowing shifts, 40-foot waves, sleep deprivation and salt sores testing them throughout.

Speaking after the Ball, Jim Brittain Long, Skipper of the Invictus Atlantic crew, said:
“The support we’ve felt from Cornwall has been extraordinary. When you’re out on the Atlantic in the pitch black, rowing through 40-foot waves, you think about home and knowing that people are behind you makes all the difference. To see that same support come together tonight for young people’s mental health is incredibly moving.”

Their achievement helped boost the Trust’s expanding services, including the charity’s partnership with Clear Counselling.

A night of generosity and community spirit

The auction saw impressive support from businesses, artists, makers, producers and individuals across Cornwall. Bidding included holidays in Portugal, Norfolk and Cornwall, jewellery, restaurant experiences, bespoke art, a private party package with cocktails and entertainment, and a large selection of items donated by Falmouth shops.

Rowers Jim Brittain Long, Paul Hayes, Luke Morgan and Dave Radford Wilson shared emotional reflections on their seven weeks at sea. Sharon Cowburn, co founder of the Invictus Trust, spoke about the charity’s origins following the loss of her son Ben to mental illness.

An original oil painting of the crew’s arrival into Antigua was unveiled and auctioned during the event. Limited edition prints are available for a minimum £20 donation by emailing tickets@invictusatlantic.com.

📷INVICTUS ATLANTIC completed the WORLD’S TOUGHEST ROW - ATLANTIC 2024. - Credit: World’s Toughest Row