An East Yorkshire woman is embarking on a monumental challenge to row 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean, aiming to raise vital funds for a charity established in memory of a school friend. Liv Stocks, 22, from East Yorkshire, will join teammates Jenna Vincent, 25, from Poole, Dorset, and Meg Neely, 24, from Swindon, Wiltshire, for the gruelling 'World's Toughest Row'.
The trio, who have named their team 'Just Row With It', will set off from the Canary Islands in December, with their sights set on Antigua in the Caribbean. Their custom-built ocean rowing boat, christened 'Stevo', will be their home for an estimated 45 to 50 days, though they are provisioned for up to 60 days at sea. They are hoping to make history by becoming the youngest female trio to complete the formidable transatlantic crossing.
Stocks is dedicating her efforts to A Shining Light, a Howden-based charity that supports NHS services and the Teenage Cancer Trust. The charity was founded following the death of her school friend, Luke Stevens, who passed away from bone cancer in 2021 at the age of 17. Stocks described A Shining Light as a “really special charity” that makes a tangible difference to young people facing severe health challenges.
The challenge itself is an extreme test of endurance and resilience. The women will be entirely self-sufficient, with no external assistance for the six to eight weeks they expect to be at sea. They have undertaken mandatory training in navigation and survival techniques to prepare for the voyage, which Stocks acknowledges will involve facing rough weather and large seas. She described the endeavour as an opportunity to “get back to basics”, focusing purely on the rhythm of eating, sleeping, and rowing.
Before their departure, the team and their boat, Stevo, are scheduled to make an appearance at the Howden Show on Sunday. This public event will provide an opportunity for the community to meet the rowers, learn more about their challenge, and offer their support for the cause.