Portsmouth MP backs Royal Navy veteran's quest to row the Atlantic
A ROYAL Navy veteran’s epic quest to row across the Atlantic has gained another crew member – in the support of an MP.
Kevin Watkins, who runs Southsea Cycles in Albert Road, aims to take on the gargantuan 3,000-mile adventure with three other team mates as part of the Talisker Whiskey Rowing Challenge.
The effort will see the team rowing from the Canary Islands to the Caribbean in a bid to raise cash for Action Medical Research’s ‘Born Too Soon’ campaign.
The charity highlight the impact of premature birth has on babies and their families and raise much-needed cash that can fund life-saving research.
Now the 51-year-old former marine engineer has enlisted the help of Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan and campaigner Charlotte Gerada to promote his fundraising voyage.
And to mark the new partnership, Kevin showed off his 28ft boat ‘Elijah Star’ to Mr Morgan outside the Labour MP’s base in Albert Road.
Shadow armed forces minister Mr Morgan said: ‘I am delighted to support Kevin and his crew as they raise money to power research to prevent premature birth.
‘As a local businessman and former Royal Navy Marine Engineer, Kevin’s efforts are rooted in our Portsmouth community.
‘With 10 per cent of all births being premature, I would encourage everyone to consider donating so we can combat the biggest killer of children under five.
‘I look forward to working together to inspire local communities, attract donations and raise awareness for this fantastic cause before the crew set off in December.’
Kevin will be joined on the 5ft wide boat Elijah by Dean Frost – who he first met shortly after starting his career in the navy in the mid-1980s – Lee McCarthy and Phil Bigland.
The team have taken their name from the boat from baby Elijah, a baby who sadly lived for just over a month after being born prematurely in Yorkshire at 25 weeks and three days. Elijah was born weighing just 823g and lived for 37 days.
The chosen charity is also very personal to Kevin, who in the early 70s lost a brother due to birth complications.
‘I’ve seen the impact premature births can have - and it can have an impact on families even if the baby survives,’ he said.
‘I lost a brother and it had an impact on my mother right the way through to when she was on her deathbed, something that had happened 50 years previously.’
To find out more visit https://elijahstar.com.