A WOMAN from west Cumbria is aiming to be one of the first people to row anti-clockwise around Great Britain.
Alison Barr from Bridgefoot is a retired primary school teacher who now works part time at the National Trust as a visitor welcome in the Borrowdale Valley.
She is aiming to be part of eight-person team who will take on the gruelling challenge to 'row against the flow' anti-clockwise around Great Britain in the vessel Nanook with the Counternavig8 GB expedition.
Alison said: "It’s going to be pretty brutal. There is a group of eight of us - six ladies and two men - we are rowing 24/7 in shifts with two hours on and two off.
"It should take about six to eight weeks to complete the row. It’s 2,000 miles."
“It is historical because historically most of the crews start at London and go clockwise. We are starting at Eyemouth [in the Scottish Borders] and going anti-clockwise so it would be a world first.
"That’s what we are aiming for and also by default we will be the fastest because no one has ever done it before!
“So, the world first and the fastest is two records that we are aiming for.”
The team are currently training and aim to be ready for the challenge around mid-May, with the group planning to set off as soon as a weather window allows.
Talking about why she is doing the challenge, Alison said: “I learned to row five years ago and as soon as I got in a boat, I loved it.
"I’m doing this because I love rowing and I am 60 this year and I think it is nice to show more mature people can still achieve something.
“I’m from a working-class background and it’s not always that you manage to fulfil your dreams from that kind of background. I want to represent working class people as well as everyone else to show you can follow a dream and achieve a dream.”
Alison is hoping to raise funds for Alzheimer's Research UK as her dad, Joe has Alzheimer's.
She said: “I have spoken to dad, and he understands that part of the funding is going to Alzheimer’s research and I’ve told him a bit about the row so he was a bit worried about it. But I’ve said it will be okay and will be close to shore which isn’t too bad.”
To find out more about the challenge or donate to the cause you can click here.
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