Prison Officers To Tackle Ocean Challenge

Two daring prison officers are preparing to jet off to Australia and take part in a challenge billed as ‘The Toughest Rowing Race in the World’.

In just two months Senior Prison PE Officers, Ben Steadman (32) and Mark Davis (33), will compete in the Woodvale Indian Ocean Race, which sees competitors row a total of 3,700 miles from Western Australia to Mauritius.

The awe-inspiring challenge is hoped to raise a massive £200,000 for their chosen charities. The money raised will be spit between Macmillan Cancer and Caudwell Children, who support sick and disabled children across the UK.

The team are being supported for the race by Lovell housing developers, GALIPS (gays and lesbians in the Prison Service), Respect (black and other ethnic minorities in the Prison Service) and the PSSA (Prison Service Sports Association), as well as gaining financial support from colleagues, friends and family.

Ben, who works at HMYOI Swinfen Hall in Staffordshire and lives in Rugby, said: “We are both very excited now, the big day is fast approaching and the boat has already gone over to Australia. There is no hiding from the fact this is going to be a huge physical and psychological test for us, we will be together in a small boat for up to two months surrounded by the vast open ocean. We have ways of motivating each other but knowing that we will hopefully raise thousands for two worthy causes is what makes us both so determined to succeed.”

The two men will take it in turns to row the small boat, both of them rowing for two hours at a time while the other sleeps or eats. While rowing, the friends will be exposed to the elements in the open top wooden vessel, and they will sleep in a small covered cabin at the rear of the ship.

Mark Davis lives in Tile Hill and currently works at HMP Hewell near Redditch, he commented: “We have been training for nearly two years for this and we are now ready to get on with it. Ben and I have a friendly rivalry so I’m sure we will push each other on but when it comes down to it we make a great team and can work together to overcome any problems, which may prove useful in the middle of an ocean as there is no one else to turn to!”

Trudi Beswick, CEO at Caudwell Children, said: “The race across the Indian Ocean is an amazing challenge and we are overwhelmed that Ben and Mark have chosen our Charity as one of the benefactors of their fundraising. As a charity we sincerely admire those people who test their own physical and mental limits in order to help others and there are few tests on Earth that are as demanding as this one.

The money the lads raise over the next few months will have a significant impact on the lives of children all over the country. By providing equipment, treatment or therapy we can change the lives of these special children and their families. We are very grateful and wish will be supporting them every step of the way.”

For more information the challenge visit www.bigboysrow.com