A 64-year-old retired soldier from Hollins is training to solo-row across the Atlantic Ocean in a bid to raise money for Guide Dogs UK.
Since 1999, on his ‘milestone nought’ birthdays, Alan Fortuin has undergone an endurance challenge to raise funds for the charity
He is now planning to hit the waves with his one-man mission of rowing the Atlantic in the 2025 World’s Toughest Row event.
After serving in the army for 35 years, with both the Airborne and Commando forces, he said: “A challenge is there to be taken on and I’ve taken them on all through my career.
"This is just another challenge. A very tough one.”
He’s been training for three years already and rows on a machine at least two-and-a-half-hours every morning, six days a week and on his ‘day off’ on Sundays, he completes a 35 km bike ride.
Alan said he had planned to row seven million miles on his machine for his 70th birthday but was inspired after seeing Frank Rothwell become the oldest person to complete the cross Atlantic challenge when he was 70-years-old.
Frank, 73, Chairman of Oldham Athletic, also completed the challenge to mark his 70th birthday as well as raising money for Alzheimer's research UK.
He said: “Alan has all the skills and strength he needs to succeed in this mammoth task. And I’m looking forward to watching his progress on the Yellow Brick Tracker when he does!”
This inspired Alan to join the challenge himself to raise money and awareness for Guide Dogs, but also to show that age isn’t a limit.
However, Alan said the hardest part of the challenge is “getting to the start line” as the costs of competing total around £110,000 for insurance, buying the boat itself, recovery and more.
Alan is searching for businesses, brands, and people to sponsor and partner with his challenge.
Business’ who sponsor will secure their branding on his boat, with various finance packages available.
He added that people can join the £250 club where they can pay to have their name on the boat, so that when he rows, he can read their names as support and motivation.
Alan also needs people to join his team to manage things like admin and PR as he says that after a 35-year army career, he “is no businessman”.
His team is named Old See Dogs, to link to his chosen charity and he says everyone involved becomes an honorary member, even just by reading his website - oldseedogs.com
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here