Meet our Incredible Rowers

Gihan Ganesh - Team Captain

Age: 40
What’s your day job? Anaesthetist
What’s the job you really want to do? F1 Driver, Astronaut, Entrepreneur, be James Bond (all at the same time)
How did you end up getting involved in the thanks a million challenge? It was my silly idea in the first place!
How are you feeling about the training? Excited and terrified at the same time.
What are you most looking forward to? Giving something back for the greatest gift, showing what can be done if put your mind to it
What are you least looking forward to? Keeping up with the training when little people keep you awake most of the night
Who are your sporting heroes? Muhammad Ali, Michael Schumacher, Steve Redgrave, Chris Hoy and any All Black

David Trimbrell

Age: 41
What’s your day job? Anaesthetist
What’s the job you really want to do?
Being an anaesthetist is pretty cool but I always wanted to travel….so it’d have to be a spy as it would tick both boxes!
How did you end up getting involved in the thanks a million challenge?
My unjustifiably big calves(!) triggered a work conversation about my long-ago history as a rower and which led me to Gihan who laid out the challenge and the fantastically good cause.
How are you feeling about the training?
I’m excited to get stuck into training and seeing the progress but wary of injury and fitting everything in around work and family
What are you most looking forward to?
Getting fit in my 40s and showing myself and my three daughters what can be achieved when you put your mind to something
What are you least looking forward to?
My wife’s reaction to all the new fitness gear I’ve purchased!
Who are your sporting heroes? 
The Olympic gold medal winning GB Men’s Coxless 4 crew of 2000 (Pinsent, Redgrave, Cracknell and Foster) when I was at my teenage rowing peak

Andy Challen

Age: 41
What’s your day job? Hyperbaric Doctor
What’s the job you really want to do?
A pro surfer
How did you end up getting involved in the thanks a million challenge?
I’ve known Lola her whole life. The courage and strength she showed fighting her cancer inspired me to want to give back.
How are you feeling about the training?
The mind is willing but my ageing body is protesting about the training. Time for some mind over matter!
What are you most looking forward to?
I’m looking forward to seeing if I can reach new peak of physical fitness in my Forties.
What are you least looking forward to?
The sore muscles!
Who are your sporting heroes? 
Richie McCaw, Kelly Slater, and Georges ST-Pierre

Hugo Gale

Age: 30
What’s your day job? Anaesthetic doctor
What’s the job you really want to do? Coast Guard rescue swimmer – just like Ashton Kutcher in ‘The Guardian’. 
How did you end up getting involved in the thanks a million challenge? Gihan’s dedication to the cause inspired me to get involved. 
How are you feeling about the training? There’s training involved? I’m not sure I’ve received the whole briefing.
What are you most looking forward to? The feeling at the end when we complete 1 million meters
What are you least looking forward to? The feeling half way through when we still have 500,000m left
Who are your sporting heroes? Muhammad Ali

David Haughie

Age: 43
What’s your day job? Energy Trading & Investing 
What’s the job you really want to do? A professional motor racer
How did you end up getting involved in the thanks a million challenge? After meeting Gihan on the very day that he found out about Lola’s cancer. 
How are you feeling about the training? It’s great to have a target to aim and push for 
What are you most looking forward to? Getting back into shape after a few “down” years!
What are you least looking forward to? I can find indoor rowing very boring..
Who are your sporting heroes? Senna and Rossi

Andrew Brides

Age: 40
What’s your day job?  TV & Film Set Dresser
What’s the job you really want to do? A Rock star
How did you end up getting involved in the thanks a million challenge?
I’m a cousin to Lola’s Mum
How are you feeling about the training? We must all suffer one of two things: the pain of discipline or the pain of disappointment.
What are you most looking forward to? Being part of something very special
What are you least looking forward to? The lyrca suits
Who are your sporting heroes? Eric Cantona. Tyson Fury. Russ Cook aka Hardest Geezer.

Mark Abthorpe

Age: 42
What’s your day job? Patent attorney
What’s the job you really want to do? Racing driver
How did you end up getting involved in the thanks a million challenge? My wife volunteered me!
How are you feeling about the training? I fear the capacity sessions…they’re calculated to be hellish
What are you most looking forward to? Aside from doing something for a good cause, saying goodbye to the Dad bod…at least until the challenge is finished 
What are you least looking forward to? My hands falling apart
Who are your sporting heroes? Jenson Button

Simon Maris

Name: Simon Maris
Age: 41
What’s your day job? Engineer/CEO
What’s the job you really want to do? Remote exploration driller, dropping drill rigs into the bush via helicopter, camping wild and looking for interesting things in the ground.
How did you end up getting involved in the thanks a million challenge? I was pressured by my wife to loose my beer belly and get fit. Then the idea seemed to get traction in my mind, I love a challenge. But the cherry on the cake is its a great opportunity to give back to the system that looked after Lola so well.
How are you feeling about the training? Dreading it, I have spent some time on a rowing machine before, it is by far my least favourite form of exercise, the idea of spending a year training on one is terrifying, there is a reason at the gym they are the least used machine and when they are used most people get off after 5 minutes.
What are you most looking forward to? A pint at the end, as part of the training program, I’m giving up alcohol for the year.
What are you least looking forward to? The numb bum, and every second of sitting on a rowing machine.
Who are your sporting heroes? Steve Redgrave, Gold medal at 38, with diabetes. An incredible career.

Carlos Bagrie

Age: 39
What’s your day job? Marketer
What’s the job you really want to do? Secret Government Agent
How did you end up getting involved in the thanks a million challenge? I spent time with Gihan and Holly when Lola was sick – and saw first hand the dedication and work the hospital staff put in for her recovery. This appealed as a way to say thank you to them for caring as they do.
How are you feeling about the training? I’ll be honest, I am very unfit and it doesn’t help that I am allergic to the gym and struggle for time (I have three young kids).
What are you most looking forward to? Getting back into shape and regaining a sense of strength and endurance.
What are you least looking forward to? The first two months of training!
Who are your sporting heroes? Anyone who has worn an All Blacks jersey during a test match.

Georgie Taylor-Darke

Age: 58
What’s your day job? I own and run a luxury hotel for cats and coach CrossFit for 55+
What’s the job you really want to do? The army or the circus
How did you end up getting involved in the thanks a million challenge? I heard about the challenge through coaches at my gym and that they were looking for a female rower. When I read the story I knew I wanted to be part of it.
How are you feeling about the training? Looking forward to it but it’s going to challenge me physically. Mind over matter right?
What are you most looking forward to? Being part of something bigger than myself and the after party
What are you least looking forward to? Sleep deprivation during the challenge
Who are your sporting heroes? Geraint Thomas, Sally Gunnell, Daley Thompson, James Hunt, Joost van der Westhuizen

Katie King

Age: 42
What’s your day job? Army Officer
What’s the job you really want to do? Professional horse rider or farmer. Although my job now is pretty cool!
How did you end up getting involved in the thanks a million challenge? Someone posted on a Facebook group looking for volunteers and I said yes!
How are you feeling about the training? Slightly concerned about fitting it all in but I’m always up for a challenge.
What are you most looking forward to? The event itself, it sounds like a fun way to spend a few days…..
What are you least looking forward to? Trying to fit the training in around work, kids etc
Who are your sporting heroes? Pippa Funnell and my daughter would definitely say Ben Stokes

Laura Barrigan

Age: 32
What’s your day job? Royal Army Physical Training Instructor
What’s the job you really want to do? Set up my own online coaching company, working for myself whilst travelling the world.
How did you end up getting involved in the thanks a million challenge? A friend of a friend of a friend…
Let’s just say my friends seem to get me into some interesting challenges.
How are you feeling about the training? It wouldn’t be a challenge if it wasn’t going to be hard. The training is going to be tough but it’ll be worth it in the end.
What are you most looking forward to? Being 60 hours into the challenge, physically exhausted, sleep deprived and realising there’s still quite a way to go….
Who are your sporting heroes? Katrin Davidsottir – she’s an absolute beast.

“I, unfortunately, know that the cancer journey is utterly brutal for the children and their families. This therapy will be able to deliver a moment of positivity whilst at the same time helping the children counteract the damaging physical effects of cancer and
treatment. ”

Gihan Ganesh

Team Captain

Challenge Statistics

Our million metre row will make a significant difference to the lives of hundreds of children and their families. Here are some of our challenge stats:

Incredible Rowers

Our team will consist of 12 incredible rowers who are relentlessly training to smash the challenge!

Total metres to be rowed

To set the Guinness World Record™ and fulfil our challenge, we need to row 1 million metres as a team in 61 hours 58 minutes 41 seconds!

Fundraising target

Our target is £1000 for every day (169) that Gihan's daughter spent on active treatment