Greenfield grandad reaches halfway mark in rowing mission

Greenfield grandfather Frank Rothwell is currently halfway across the Atlantic Ocean and over halfway to raising £1 million for Alzheimer’s Research UK as donations surpass £600,000.  

Frank (pictured) started his epic 3,000-mile journey from La Gomera as part of the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge on December 12. 

The 70-year-old hopes to be the oldest person to complete the challenge. Frank has currently spent over 38 days at sea rowing 1,387 nautical miles, with approximately 28 more days and 1,386 nautical miles left to row on his boat, Never Too Old.

As well as reaching this milestone, Frank has also received over £600,000 in donations and has now raised more than any other participant in the challenge.

Thanks to the generous contribution from supporters, and Iceland Foods Charitable Foundation’s doubling of donations of up to £500,000, Frank now has under £200,000 left to hit his £1 million target for Alzheimer’s Research UK.

Harsh weather conditions have been difficult for Frank to push through over the last few weeks. But he’s confident the second half should be easier than the first, as the weather picks up and the wind direction changes.  

Rowers usually adopt a two-hour on, two-hour off rowing method but Frank has been listening to his body and rows intuitively. 

He has been managing to get a full eight hours sleep a night, although broken at times due to the crashing onboard of flying fish. 

Frank’s been enjoying some of the wildlife he’s spotted along the way, including a Minke whale, a school of 200-300 dolphins, and an exhausted bird that made a quick pitstop on Frank’s boat for food and rest.

When it comes to feeding his body, the experts recommend rowers consume around 6,000 calories per day. But Frank said it was difficult to manage as he can only stomach up to 4,000 calories per day. 

The freeze-dried diet Frank tucks into every day includes macaroni cheese.

After spending Christmas away from his wife Judith, Frank is looking forward to getting back in February.

Donations can be made to Frank’s fundraising challenge at www.justgiving.com/frankrothwell