Kettering woman reaches halfway mark in Atlantic charity row
Team Do The Thing aims to raise £200,000 for critically ill children
A woman who had never rowed before is celebrating reaching halfway in an enormous 3,200‑mile Atlantic row for charity.
Nicky Allen, a 44-year-old from Kettering has reached the halfway point of her extraordinary journey, rowing 3,200 miles across the Atlantic Ocean to raise funds for critically ill children.
As part of Team Do The Thing, Allen and her three teammates began their endurance challenge on 24th January, rowing from Lanzarote to Antigua without the use of sails or engines, relying solely on their determination and teamwork.
Allen said the crew marked their latest milestone in true “Team Do the Thing” fashion. “We celebrated by living in the moment, and we had a pool party or should we say, an ocean party,” she said.
Taking advantage of calmer seas, the crew were able to jump in at different times and enjoy a rare spell of freedom away from the oars. “It was absolutely exhilarating,” she added.
Allen says the challenge has pushed her far outside her comfort zone. “I’m actually quite scared of the sea,” she admitted. Reflecting on her victory dip in the water, she added: “Beneath me, it was 5,000 metres of ocean.”
Allen says the crew signed up for the “bonkers” 3,200‑mile row from Lanzarote to Antigua to support the Make‑A‑Wish Foundation. Their target is to raise more than £200,000 which enough to grant 100 wishes for children with critical illnesses and their families.
She explained her journey began six months ago, when Allen joined fellow crew members – many of whom she didn’t know before training. Their preparation involved rigorous drills, fostering camaraderie and teamwork essential for their transatlantic row.
Allen says the past month at sea has brought some unforgettable moments. “So far in the 30‑plus days we’ve been rowing, the wildlife has been amazing – and the stars at night as well, with no light pollution and only ocean on the horizon.'' she added.
“All you’ve got is horizon, literally 360 degrees around the boat.”
She said the team haven’t seen another vessel in more than ten days. “It’s just the four of us on our little rowboat, Elizabeth,” she said, adding that the isolation “helps to ground us in the magnitude of what we’re taking on as a challenge and as an adventure.”
Allen admits the physical side of the journey has been one of the toughest parts. “From a hardness perspective, I can’t lie – the conditions we’re living in are testing,” she said.
On their eight‑by‑two‑metre rowing boat, she explains, “the four of us are basically living on top of each other in a cycle of row, eat, sleep, repeat.”
To find out more about Team Do the Thing, and to follow their progress across the Atlantic, visit their website.