TEAM HESCO LAUNCHES MOUNT SPIRIT

The twin themes of courage and determination were abundantly evident today as Team Hesco formally launched its 29ft boat - and with it the attempt at a new transatlantic rowing record - in the presence of Falklands veteran Simon Weston and meningitis survivor Sophia Weston.

In the shadow of Tower Bridge, and under a deep blue spring sky, the Archdeacon of Lichfield blessed the boat and praised the four members of its crew for their doggedness in pursuing their goal - raising £100,000 for the Meningitis Trust, in memory of Gareth Rowlands, who died from the disease at the age of 16.

"I know from personal experience the good work of the Meningitis Trust, and how it saves lives," he said. "The Trust's simple symptoms cards, designed to fit in a pocket, surely saved the life of my daughter Helen after she contracted the disease during her university Freshers' Week.

"She'd been given the card earlier that same week; it was that card from which she self-diagnosed her condition and got herself to hospital," he explained.

"Rowing an ocean, even the Atlantic, is something that one can prepare and train for, and take in your stride," said Major Pete Rowlands, Gareth's father, "but the same cannot be said of losing a 16-year-old son to meningitis, overnight.

"The hardest thing I've ever had to do in my life was to carry Gareth's coffin at his funeral."

Pete was joined at the launch by his crewmates Captain Mark Waterson, Lance Corporal Charlie Martell, Staff Sergeant Ben Fouracre and Warrant Officer Steve Clewley MBE, who is the team's reserve rower. Following the naming ceremony, Mount Spirit made its way down the River Thames - probably some of the calmest conditions the crew will face in Mount Spirit.

"The current record for the North Atlantic crossing, from New York to the Scilly Isles, is 55 days," explained Adrian Bell, campaign manager for Team Hesco. "Set by two Norwegian fishermen, the record has remained unbroken for 110 years.

"Team Hesco intends to break that record, and to set its own record by becoming the first team to row from the US mainland to the UK mainland, by making first landfall at Falmouth sometime early in August."

More than 100 guests - family, friends and sponsors - attended the launch. There was further cause for celebration in the afternoon, when it was announced that fundraising had reached £50,000.

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For photos of the launch, visit the Launch Gallery here