A rower from Malmesbury is embarking on one of the world’s toughest charity fundraisers later this year.

Ed Hughes will join Daragh MacDonagh, Francis Highton and Sam Weston on the high seas in 3,000-mile The Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge 2022.

The Atlantic ExplOARers team will challenge the four men to row across the Atlantic Ocean from San Sebastian in La Gomera, Canary Islands to Nelson’s Dockyard, English Harbour, Antigua and Barbuda.

The annual race begins in early December, with up to 30 teams participating from around the world. Weeks before the race begins, the rowing teams and the world’s media begin to gather in the race village to prepare for the event.

The mental and physical endurance required to complete the challenge is extreme - more people have been to space or climbed Mount Everest than have rowed across the Atlantic Ocean. Each competitor will row for two hours and rest for two hours, twenty-four hours a day, every day.

Ed, who works in IT, is not looking forward to the blisters, but said: “Being able to raise any money for MIND is the main driver, so they can help more people who may need their support.”

The average crossing takes 42 days but is hugely dependent on weather conditions. Competitors will battle sleep deprivation, salt sores, dehydration, hallucinations, storms, sun stroke and waves of up to 30ft.

The Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge has raised over £10m for charities since 2013 and the Atlantic Exploarers hope to do their little bit by raising money for MIND, the leading mental health charity in England and Wales.

In the past year, MIND has reached 20,000 young people through its work to improve mental health in schools; responded to over 118,000 people seeking advice via its helplines; and worked with employers to support over 775,000 people to have better mental health at work.

Atlantic Exploarers are actively seeking corporate sponsors to help them get to the start line. Email atlanticexploarers@gmail.com for information. More details are also available online at atlanticexploarers.co.uk and Instagram: @atlanticexploarers.