I remember the time when my partner, actor Robert Portal, aka Bertie, told me he was planning to row the Atlantic for charity. How could I forget? It was our first date and to be honest, although I was suitably impressed, I was more concerned with fluttering my eyelashes at him across the table. Little did I know what an enormous impact this man, his plans and the charity would have on my future.
Bertie was a close friend of surgeon Martin Kelly co-founder of Facing The World, a fledging charity based in London offering facial reconstructive surgery to children from the Far East where this specialist treatment isn't available. Children who have been hidden away by their families for fear of at best discrimination and at worst stoning - simply because of the way they look.
Bertie could see the fire and passion Martin had for his work and promised he would do something to help raise both money for and awareness of Facing The World. Tragedy struck in 2008 and Martin died leaving friends and family devastated and Bertie even more determined to fulfil his promise. There was no option but to do something extraordinary to raise a significant amount of money and so the idea of rowing the Atlantic in the "toughest rowing race in the world," was born.
Personal trainer and friend James Cash was commandeered as rowing partner and two years of slog, training, fundraising, boat buying, sea survival courses, sleepless nights, nerves, navigational exams...I could go on forever...began and all on top of their day jobs. They had a team helping with fundraising and for that both Bertie and James are eternally grateful, but the everyday grind was up to them and believe me, there was a lot of it.
It was a feat in itself to get to the start line and the fact that they are now out there mid-Atlantic and rowing like hell to get to Barbados is phenomenal. They have suffered terrible difficulties including slowly but surely breaking all their oars due to the force of the waves, followed by eight days of drifting on the drogue whilst waiting for the good ship Aurora to bring them more. During that wait a wave hit them on the beam and Patience capsized breaking their tracking beacon and throwing everyone at home into a mild panic. St Christopher was doing his job that day and both men were OK and the little boat did what she was designed to do and rolled back over.
To say being at home while your partner rows the Atlantic is easy would be lying. Some days are better than others as we watch Patience's little tracker line move slowly across the Atlantic. However I wouldn't change it for the world. It has been and continues to be an exciting time, whatever is thrown at us.
I was asked by somebody how I cope and I will tell you. I cope because I wholeheartedly believe in them, I trust them and can think of no two men better to help one another in the face of adversity. Bertie and James rely on each other to get across the Atlantic safely and whilst there are probably times when their friendship is tested, this can only make them stronger in the long run. They are two intelligent men who thought long and hard about this endeavour. Their courage, commitment and determination never ceases to amaze me and aside from raising over £350,000 for charity, I know for sure that Martin Kelly would be one very impressed man.