Former England Rugby international Ollie Phillips (Ha. 1996-2001), has begun what may be the toughest challenge of his entire life: rowing more than 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean to raise money for six life-changing charities.
Ollie and his three teammates – Tom Clowes, Julian Evans and Stuart Kershaw – who met while climbing Everest, are taking part in The World’s Toughest Row, an elite endurance challenge that pushes crews to their physical and mental limits. Setting off from La Gomera in the Canary Islands on 14 December, the team will row unsupported across open ocean to English Harbour in Antigua, a journey expected to take between 35 and 45 days.
Rowing in shifts of two hours on, two hours off, the crew will operate around the clock with minimal sleep, burning up to 6,000 calories a day. Along the way, they will face towering waves, intense heat, cold night temperatures and complete isolation at sea.
For Ollie, adventure has been a constant since retiring from professional rugby. His past challenges include climbing Everest and Kilimanjaro, trekking to the North Pole, sailing around the world and crossing India by rickshaw. Yet he believes this Atlantic crossing will surpass them all.
“This is as much a mental challenge as a physical one,” Ollie has said. “Sleep deprivation, constant rowing and the emotional highs and lows will really test us. But that’s exactly why it matters.”
Ollie’s team, known as Seas Life, is rowing to raise funds and awareness for six charities close to their hearts: Matt Hampson Foundation, Cure Parkinson’s, My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, The Clocktower Foundation, Shiplake C.E. Primary School and Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity.
Supporting causes linked to Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is particularly personal for Ollie, who was close friends with the late rugby legend Doddie Weir and has seen first-hand the impact of the disease within the rugby community.
Every mile rowed is dedicated to those facing life-changing illness, injury and adversity—and every donation helps turn this extraordinary physical effort into lasting impact.
You can follow the team’s progress on their YouTube channel, LinkedIn page and support their mission by donating online. Any contribution, large or small, will help these charities continue their vital work. Please visit: www.seaslife.co.uk/donate
We wish Ollie and the entire Seas Life crew fair winds and safe passage across the Atlantic!