Shropshire Star

Solo Shropshire para-rower taking on Atlantic Ocean

An adventurer is setting her sights on the record books as she aims to become the first para-athlete to row across the Atlantic single-handedly.

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Kelda Wood, from near Shrewsbury, is aiming to become the first para-athlete to row across the Atlantic single-handedly

Kelda Wood, who lives near Shrewsbury, wants to raise £50,000 for her charity Climbing Out with the epic ‘Row to Raise’ challenge, which she hopes will inspire others facing mental or physical trauma.

The three-month row will begin at the end of this year, and is the same journey which has just been completed by the record-breaking Atlantic Ladies team, including two Shropshire women – Dianne Carrington and Sharon Magrath.

Kelda set up Climbing Out, which offers five-day outdoor activity programmes for young people facing life-changing injury, illness or trauma, after her own accident in 2002.

She hopes the challenge will enable the charity to reach even more young people in the future.

Kelda is in training and will be revealing her specially-made boat soon

After playing netball at national level and riding horses professionally, Kelda suffered a life-changing leg injury when a haylage bale weighing nearly a tonne fell on top of her.

Determined not to allow this to halt her love of sport and activity, she became a member of the GB paracanoe squad, almost making it to the Paralympic Games in Rio.

But she admits that the transatlantic mission, part of the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, is going to be another huge learning curve.

Kelda said: “I’ve been on a huge journey since my own life-changing injury – a journey that’s included being a member of the GB paracanoe squad, setting up Climbing Out, and summiting Aconcagua, the highest peak in South America.

“I now want to support others to find the same confidence and self-belief that I’ve found through my journey – and that’s why I’m going to row the Atlantic.”

Each day she is on the ocean, Kelda will be rowing for a different young person, sharing their stories and links to relevant charities and organisations that provide support.

Charities such as The Teenage Cancer Trust, Kidney Care UK, Limbpower and Help for Heroes will be nominating people for Kelda to row for, and helping to create a network of support.

On March 10, she will be officially unveiling Storm Petrel, her specially adapted ocean-rowing boat, outside the Go Outdoors store on the Sundorne Retail Park in Shrewsbury, from 10am to 3pm, explaining how she plans to survive for up to three months all alone. She also hopes one or two of the Atlantic Ladies, who are friends of hers, will join her at the launch.

She said: “I’m grateful to the team at Go Outdoors in Shrewsbury for their help with our March 10 event – the aim now is to raise awareness of the challenge as much as possible, to make sure it is on the radar of potential supporters and sponsors.”

Kelda is still on the lookout for sponsors and mentors to join her team. More information about Kelda’s challenge can be found at www.rowtoraise.com.