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.
By Tom Cotterill
Published 11th Apr 2021, 11:38 BST

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City MP Stephen Morgan has thrown his weight behind local businessman Kevin Watkins’ efforts to sail 3,000 miles across the Atlantic to raise funds for Action Medical Research’s Born Too Soon campaign. The charity aims to highlight the impact premature birth has on babies and their families and to help fund research that can save lives. Kevin Watkins, who runs Southsea Cycles along Albert Road, has enlisted the support of Stephen Morgan MP and local campaigner Charlotte Gerada to promote the proposed gruelling event for charity and inspire the city’s communities to learn more. Pictured is: (back l-r) The Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge crew Rod Tredgett, Kevin Watkins with his son Max (7), Gemma Best and Laura Bradley with (front) Charlotte Gerada, community campaigner and MP Stephen Morgan. Picture: Sarah Standing (090421-6404)City MP Stephen Morgan has thrown his weight behind local businessman Kevin Watkins’ efforts to sail 3,000 miles across the Atlantic to raise funds for Action Medical Research’s Born Too Soon campaign. The charity aims to highlight the impact premature birth has on babies and their families and to help fund research that can save lives. Kevin Watkins, who runs Southsea Cycles along Albert Road, has enlisted the support of Stephen Morgan MP and local campaigner Charlotte Gerada to promote the proposed gruelling event for charity and inspire the city’s communities to learn more. Pictured is: (back l-r) The Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge crew Rod Tredgett, Kevin Watkins with his son Max (7), Gemma Best and Laura Bradley with (front) Charlotte Gerada, community campaigner and MP Stephen Morgan. Picture: Sarah Standing (090421-6404)
City MP Stephen Morgan has thrown his weight behind local businessman Kevin Watkins’ efforts to sail 3,000 miles across the Atlantic to raise funds for Action Medical Research’s Born Too Soon campaign. The charity aims to highlight the impact premature birth has on babies and their families and to help fund research that can save lives. Kevin Watkins, who runs Southsea Cycles along Albert Road, has enlisted the support of Stephen Morgan MP and local campaigner Charlotte Gerada to promote the proposed gruelling event for charity and inspire the city’s communities to learn more. Pictured is: (back l-r) The Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge crew Rod Tredgett, Kevin Watkins with his son Max (7), Gemma Best and Laura Bradley with (front) Charlotte Gerada, community campaigner and MP Stephen Morgan. Picture: Sarah Standing (090421-6404)

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.

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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.

"Hello sailor!": Stephen Morgan peers through a port hole on the Elijah Star. Picture: Sarah Standing (090421-6392) Picture: Sarah Standing (090421-6392)"Hello sailor!": Stephen Morgan peers through a port hole on the Elijah Star. Picture: Sarah Standing (090421-6392) Picture: Sarah Standing (090421-6392)
"Hello sailor!": Stephen Morgan peers through a port hole on the Elijah Star. Picture: Sarah Standing (090421-6392) Picture: Sarah Standing (090421-6392)

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.

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Pictured (left to right) Kevin Watkins, Gemma Best, Laura Bradley and Rod Tredgett. Picture: Sarah Standing (090421-6417)Pictured (left to right) Kevin Watkins, Gemma Best, Laura Bradley and Rod Tredgett. Picture: Sarah Standing (090421-6417)
Pictured (left to right) Kevin Watkins, Gemma Best, Laura Bradley and Rod Tredgett. Picture: Sarah Standing (090421-6417)
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‘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.

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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.

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Related topics:Stephen MorganRoyal NavyPortsmouth

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