‘There’s a reason they call it the World’s Toughest Row,’ was the first thing I heard when I answered my phone last week. Little did I expect to receive a call from John Watling and Team Seasoar, who have been battling the elements and facing continuous challenges since they set off from La Gomera in mid-December. During this time, they’ve barely slept, dealt with capsizes, lost oars, malfunctioning electronic equipment, and the loss of the all-important dagger board. Sleep deprivation, challenging weather, and being pushed to his very limits made for an emotional phone call with John.

After the initial shock of realizing I was speaking with him via a sat-phone from the Atlantic Ocean, I quickly focused on what he needed from this call. How could I offer him even a small boost at this moment?

What he needed from me was to express how grateful he was that, upon learning about his daughter Yasmin’s battle with the disease and his mission to row across the Atlantic to raise funds for Lyme Disease UK, we at St Mary’s heard his personal story and shared it with the LVI, who then chose LDUK as the School Charity for 2024. He wanted the opportunity to thank us.

At its heart, it is a deeply human story: a father trying to support his sick daughter. But it has grown into so much more, with Yasmin, a former pupil of mine and alumna of St Mary’s, representing every person who has contracted this disease. The daily struggles they face are mirrored in the hourly challenges Team Seasoar encounters at sea. As John says, their rowing challenge will eventually end, but the struggles of those suffering from Lyme disease will not.

John and the co-founder of LDUK joined us at last year's Founder’s Day and delivered a powerful speech about perseverance, resilience, and determination that was truly uplifting in June. Our community now understands that, with the right medical care, if bitten by a tick, this prolonged illness can be avoided.

John and Team Seasoar are due to complete their challenge on Saturday 1st February. They can be followed on Instagram, and the finish will be live-streamed worldwide here.

We have every confidence that John and Team Seasoar will win their own race. If you’re able to make any donations to LDUK via their fundraising page, we can help Lyme Disease UK get closer to winning its own race.

Mrs Claire Bolton, Head of Community Outreach & Partnerships