A Royal Marines veteran from Bradley Stoke is taking part in a gruelling 3,000-mile charity fundraising challenge to row across the Atlantic from Gran Canaria to Barbados.
Jason Gardiner is part of a team of three ex-Marines and a serving merchant seaman who are making the unsupported voyage to raise money and awareness for The Royal Marines Charity.
They embarked on their gruelling journey on Wednesday 22nd December 2021 and expect it to take 40-50 days, depending on the weather.
The four-man team, known as Atlantic Dagger, will row in shifts with two people rowing at a time. Their plan is for each man to be 2 hours on the oars followed by 2 hours rest, allowing them to make continuous progress.
Jason joined the Royal Marines in 2007 and deployed to Afghanistan on Operation Herrick IX in 2008/9. Upon his return he represented the Navy Boxing Team for 2 years and eventually left the Marines at the end of 2011, after which he joined the Royal Marines Reserves.
Since leaving, Jason has taken part in several gruelling fundraising endeavours for The Royal Marines Charity, including the notorious Marathon Des Sables – a marathon a day for 6 days through the Sahara Desert.
Speaking about the charitable cause, Jason explains:
“The Royal Marines Charity does great work for serving and former members of the corps. Helping many of those rendered disabled after fighting in conflicts in the Middle East and ensuring the older veterans have contact and don’t get isolated in their old age.”
The other members of the Atlantic Dagger team are ex-marines Oscar Stone and Mitch Hutchcraft, and merchant seaman Conor Patterson.
Jason says the Atlantic row has been on his bucket list for the last decade and he is looking forward to completing it, but adds that not spending Christmas with his wife and two children “will be the hardest part”.
“I’ve structured it in my mind that as soon as we set off, I’m racing to get back to them and want to make them proud,” says Jason.
To donate, visit https://gofund.me/098bcb56
To follow the team’s progress, visit:
