Nurses row Atlantic for children

Herdip Sidhu and Elin Davies have been training on the Thames

Two nurses who picked up an oar for the first time this year are preparing to row 2,500 miles across the Atlantic.

Elin Haf Davies, from Bala, Gwynedd, and Herdip Sidhu, from West Bromwich, West Midlands, hope to raise £250,000.

The money will be for research into children's metabolic disorders at London's Great Ormond Street Hospital, where they work.

They will spend up to three months rowing from the Canary Islands to Antigua, living off dehydrated food.

Senior research nurse Ms Davies and ward sister Ms Sidhu met through work five years ago, and while they have successfully run marathons and cycled from Paris to London in the name of charity, they had never rowed before this year.

The money they raise from their latest challenge will provide funding for two research projects for children.

Rowing is about 10% of the challenge: the rest is coping with sea sickness, home sickness, sleep deprivation, hunger and always being soaked and salt-encrusted Elin Haf Davies

Their 23ft rowing boat has been shipped to La Gomera in the Canaries in advance of the Atlantic Rowing Race 2007, and the two nurses followed for the start of the race on Sunday.

"The physical side doesn't worry us," said Ms Davies.

"Rowing is about 10% of the challenge: the rest is coping with sea sickness, home sickness, sleep deprivation, hunger and always being soaked and salt-encrusted."

'Amazing achievement'

In preparation, the pair committed to a gruelling daily training regime, hitting the gym and training on the Thames.

They had to study and pass exams in sea survival, ocean yachtmaster, short range radio licences and first aid at sea.

Both were spurred on by Olympic gold medallist James Cracknell and television presenter Ben Fogle, who came third in the race when they raised money for BBC Children in Need.

"Inspired by James Cracknell's and Ben Fogle's amazing achievement in last year's race, we decided we'd love to give it a try," Ms Davies said.

Both men are supporting the nurses and have wished them "all the luck in the world".

"They have a very tough year ahead of them as they get ready for the biggest physical and mental challenge of their lives," said Cracknell.

The nurses hope to reach Antigua in the West Indies in under 60 days.

"We're both very determined, rather stubborn individuals," Ms Sidhu said.

"So we have every confidence that we will rise to this challenge, like all others, and complete it."