Airline Pilots to Row Atlantic for Cancer Charities Backed by South West Water

Three airline pilots are preparing to swap the skies for the sea as they take on a gruelling 3,000-mile Atlantic row to raise money for cancer charities.

South West Water’s parent company, Pennon, is sponsoring the trio, who call themselves the Coastal Commanders, as they compete in The World’s Toughest Row Atlantic. The annual event sees teams row from the Canary Islands to Antigua, a journey that can take up to 60 days.

From Flight Deck to Open Ocean

The team — Martin Mead, Scott Dingle and Jon Reilly — first met at work five years ago. Their mission has a deeply personal motivation after Jon overcame stage two testicular cancer in 2019 following nine weeks of chemotherapy.

They are aiming to raise £150,000 for Young Lives Against Cancer and MOVE Against Cancer, charities chosen because of Jon’s own health battle.

Jon said:

“I battled through three gruelling rounds of chemo to get my body back in shape to race triathlons, less than a year after diagnosis.

I’m excited to take on the Atlantic, it’ll be my biggest challenge yet and will prove that no matter what setbacks life throws your way you can beat them and come back stronger than ever.”

Training for the Unknown

The pilots have already committed to 18 months of intensive training, both on the water and in the gym, to prepare for the physical and mental toll of the challenge.

During the row, the team will rotate in shifts of two hours of rowing followed by one hour of rest — a relentless schedule that continues day and night until they reach Antigua. On average, they will burn 6,000 calories a day while facing Atlantic storms and waves up to 20 metres high.

Scott said:

“We’re incredibly grateful to Pennon for their generous support, which is helping us get our oars in the water, take a huge step closer to the start line, and chase a new trio world record.

With support like this, we’re not only pushing our own limits – but we’re also raising vital funds for causes that matter deeply to us and inspiring others to take on the challenges life throws their way.”

Backing from Charities and Sponsors

Sophie Mulligan, Fundraising Officer at MOVE Against Cancer, praised the team’s determination:

“The Coastal Commanders’ commitment is hugely admirable. They’ve dedicated so much of their time to training and preparing for this epic challenge and to do it in support of MOVE Against Cancer means so much to us. Any donations will go directly into supporting and inspiring those affected by cancer to live an active, fulfilling life.”

Pennon’s Head of Customer Communications and Engagement, Dani Twelvetree, added:

“We’re very pleased to be sponsoring the Costal Commanders for this incredible challenge.

Both the cancer charities they’ll be raising funds for do amazing work and we’re proud to be a part of that journey.”

How to Support

The team hopes their efforts will inspire others while raising vital funds for cancer support. More details, including how to donate, can be found at www.coastalcommanders.com/join-our-mission.