They’re rowing! After over two years of preparation and hard work, Sean and Jonny have set off on their extraordinary Atlantic crossing for Care after Combat and the Samaritans. On the 24th of January, they pushed away from Lanzarote and began their 3,200-mile row across one of the world’s most challenging oceans, heading towards Antigua.
Over the next 60 to 80 days, every stroke of their oars will be raising vital funds for two causes close to their hearts: Care after Combat and Samaritans.
As Sean and Jonny themselves put it: “We’ve been building the pyramid for two years, but there’s one piece remaining – the tip. That’s the bit we, Sean and Jonny, will do everything within our power to complete in the next two months.”
This is the start of an incredible adventure, and we’re inviting everyone to follow along and support them.
The Challenge Ahead: 3,200 Miles of Atlantic Ocean
The scale of what Sean and Jonny are attempting is almost incomprehensible. Over 60 to 80 days, they’ll be rowing in shifts around the clock, 24 hours a day, every single day, covering 3,200 miles of open ocean.
The physical demands the team faces will be immense.
They’ll face towering waves, scorching sun, storms that test their resolve, seasickness (Sean’s already experienced it!), and moments when every muscle screams to stop. Yet they’ll keep rowing, because every mile they row represents hope for someone who needs it.
Supporting Veterans and Mental Health
The Changing Tides Row is raising funds for two causes: Care after Combat and Samaritans. These represent two sides of the same important mission: supporting people through their darkest moments and helping them find a way forward.
Care after Combat focuses specifically on supporting veterans in the justice system. We do this by providing one-to-one support from mentors with Armed Forces experience, helping veterans during their time in the justice system, and for at least one year after release.
The Samaritans provide confidential emotional support to anyone in distress, with trained volunteers available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Whether someone is facing a mental health crisis, feeling overwhelmed, or simply needs someone to listen, Samaritans is there.
The funds raised will directly impact real people: veterans working to reintegrate into society and individuals reaching out to Samaritans in their moment of need.
How You Can Support the Journey
There are several meaningful ways you can support Sean and Jonny as they tackle this monumental challenge:
Follow their progress. There are several ways to track Sean and Jonny’s journey across the Atlantic:
- Follow the Changing Tides Row on Facebook, where Jem and Rachel (managing communications from home) share regular updates from the boat via Starlink satellite connection, photos, videos, and behind-the-scenes content.
- Track their exact position using the YB Races app (available from your app store). The app updates every 4 hours, showing how far they’ve rowed, miles remaining, and projected finish date, so you can follow along mile by mile. [See the team’s Facebook post for a guide on how to use the app!]
Send your messages of support through Facebook, as Sean and Jonny will see them when connectivity allows, and your encouragement helps enormously during the toughest moments at sea.
While they won’t be able to respond until they reach Antigua, knowing people are following their journey provides that ever-important motivation to keep rowing.
If updates go quiet temporarily, don’t worry, it simply means weather or conditions have affected their connectivity, not that anything is wrong.
Donate to support the cause. Every contribution, no matter the size, helps veterans rebuild their lives and people facing mental health crises. Donate via their Givestar page to directly support Care after Combat and Samaritans.
Share their story. Spread awareness on social media, tell friends and family, and share updates from their Facebook page. The more people who know about this challenge, the more awareness we raise for veterans in the justice system and for those in need of mental health support.
Your social media share might reach someone who needs to know these services exist, or inspire someone else to donate or get involved.
A Special Stowaway: Introducing JJ Bear and Operation PAWSIBLE
Sean and Jonny aren’t making this journey entirely alone. JJ Bear, Care after Combat’s beloved mascot, has joined them on their Atlantic crossing! This marks the official launch of Operation PAWSIBLE, JJ Bear’s worldwide adventure supporting veterans!
JJ will be documenting the journey from a unique perspective, sharing updates, observations, and perhaps even some covert mission reports from onboard the boat.
But this Atlantic crossing is just the beginning of JJ’s travels. Operation PAWSIBLE will see JJ embark on adventures around the world, always with the mission of raising awareness and funds for veterans in need. We’ll be sharing JJ’s mission logs throughout the journey, a bit of fun alongside the incredible feat Sean and Jonny are accomplishing.
Fair Winds to Sean, Jonny, and JJ Bear.
Thank you for choosing to use your strength, your time, and your resilience to make a difference for so many people who need it, and thank you for bringing JJ Bear along and launching Operation PAWSIBLE in such spectacular fashion.
This adventure is happening right now, and everyone reading this can be part of it. Follow their journey on Facebook, support their cause through Givestar, share their story, and check back regularly for updates from both the rowers and from JJ Bear’s covert operations.
Fair winds and following seas, team. We’re with you every single stroke of the way.