A BALSALL Common turkey farmer has helped raise more than £150,000 for charity after rowing 3,200 miles across the Atlantic Ocean.
Rod Adlington and his Brightsides crew completed the epic trans-Atlantic crossing in aid of the Get A-Head Charitable Trust, which supports people with head and neck disease, and Meningitis Now, which provides awareness, research and vital support to people affected by the devastating disease.
Rod, who runs Adlington Turkey Farms along with crewmate Guy Minshull, an arable farmer from Kenilworth, met with charity representatives and sponsors at a celebratory event in Stockton, Southam.
During the event the two farmers spoke about the highlights and multiple challenges that they faced during the crossing from The Canary Islands to the Caribbean as well as the relief and elation they felt once arriving back on dry land.
Rod said: “Just before we set off, the crew and I came up with four simple rules to follow and they were: To never be a late for a rowing shift, to give it everything, to have fun and to come home as friends and I can say, we achieved all four.”
The Brightsides crew completed the unassisted row in 52 days and 18 hours to become the first mixed crew and fastest team to complete the C-Map Atlantic Dash regatta – one of the world’s toughest endurance challenges.
In addition to being the first mixed team to complete the challenge, Anna also became the first female to have successfully finished the regatta.
Rod decided to embark on the mammoth rowing challenge in memory of his son Barney, who died from meningitis in 2005 when he was just three-year’s old.
Congratulating the Brightsides on their incredible achievement Get A-Head Chair-and managing partner of Bromwich Hardy, Tom Bromwich said: “It’s been an absolute privilege to support Rod and the rest of the Brightsides crew on this incredible journey and we can’t thank them enough for everything that they have done and achieved.”
John Watkinson, co-founder of Get A-Head, added: “We would like to thank the Brightsides for raising an incredible amount of money for our charity.
“These funds will go directly towards supporting research into the causes and treatment for head and neck disease as well as life-saving equipment.”
Tom Nutt, chief executive of Meningitis Now, said: “A major part of this fundraising challenge was in memory of Rod’s son Barney who would have been 21 this year.
“We know Barney helped to keep Rod going and remembering Barney reminds us all of the devastating impact meningitis can have on people’s lives.”
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