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 Timbrell

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

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

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

Anna Sharrock

Age: 44
What’s your day job? Vascular Surgeon
What’s the job you really want to do? F1 racing driver
How did you end up getting involved in the thanks a million challenge? Conversation at work during an aneurysm repair! Also, my son has also had life saving surgery at Southampton general hospital. I trained at Southampton as a registrar.
How are you feeling about the training? Good excuse to get fit, but not looking forward to the pain!
What are you most looking forward to? Working together to accomplish it, and giving something back.
What are you least looking forward to? The pain in my back, and boredom. Getting on the erg when I’m really tired.
Who are your sporting heroes? Sally Gunnell.

Craig Durnin

Age: 30
What’s your day job? Risk Engineer
What’s the job you really want to do? I’d love to be a Photographer
How did you end up getting involved in the thanks a million challenge?People at my local CrossFit mistakenly thought I was good at rowing, nominated me and I accepted as I’m a sucker for pain. Especially as it’s for a great cause.
How are you feeling about the training? I’ll tell you when I start!
What are you most looking forward to? Breaking a world record sounds pretty cool.
What are you least looking forward to? Rowing.
Who are your sporting heroes? Doddie Weir

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.

Christina Clark

Age: 31
What’s your day job? Consumer Goods Programme Manager
What’s the job you really want to do? First reader for a publisher, i love reading
How did you end up getting involved in the thanks a million challenge? My husband Craig brought me in who is also doing the challenge and I couldnt help but say yes when i heard about the great cause it is all in aid of.
How are you feeling about the training? Absolutely terrified! I’ve never done anything like it and hate doing repetitive training!
What are you most looking forward to? Proving to myself that we can do such an impressive feat as a team
What are you least looking forward to? The numb bumb on the erg…
Who are your sporting heroes? Ilona Maher, she has completely broken the stereotype of what it means to be a female athlete

“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