SAS veteran and ‘proud Fintry boy’ to row across the Atlantic

Brave Dundee man preparing to take on solo challenge in aid of Motor Neurone Disease research

A Dundee-born veteran wants to raise a £1 million for Motor Neurone Disease (MND) by rowing solo across the Atlantic ocean in a death-defying challenge.

John Davidson, 56, plans to undertake the gruelling journey wearing a kilt and with just 180 days of training, compared to the two years normally required to prepare for the perilous journey.

The former SAS soldier and “proud Fintry boy” said although there have been deaths during the challenge in the past, he is not worried and is ready to face the sea despite never having rowed before.

John, who lives in Worcestershire, was inspired to sign up for the Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge, beginning on December 12, after meeting with rugby legend Doddie Weir.

All money raised would be donated to the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, which funds research into MND.

John said: “I met Doddie at a ScotlandEngland game when I was with my son Hamish.

“Hamish had been told by his school that he was too small to play rugby and Doddie took great offence to that.

“He took him under his arm and gave a truly inspirational speech about how we shouldn’t let anything hold us back. “Hamish is now 12 and playing rugby. “Doddie was such a great inspiration and it was devastating to hear that he had been diagnosed with MND.

“I decided that I wanted to raise awareness and money for this cause and with my background, I wanted to do something that would really push the limits. I have never rowed before but I’m confident that I will be able to prepare for this challenge.”

John will be rowing from the Canary Islands to Antigua in a small boat called the Mad Giraffe.

There has only been 85 people who completed the challenge, called “the toughest endurance race on the planet”, which should take an average of 60 days at sea – rowing 18 hours a day and consuming 8,000 calories.

John added: “I expect to lose around 15-20kg in body weight.

“More people have climbed Everest than have rowed the Atlantic Ocean.

“If something goes wrong, it would be three to four days before help would come, so I’d be on my own out there.

“I want to show people that you can still achieve great things when you’re over 50 and I want to inspire people in Dundee – I live in Worcestershire now but I’m a proud Fintry boy.”

To sponsor John, visit justgiving.com/ fundraising/madgiraffeatlanticrow

Doddie was such a great inspiration and it was devastating to hear that he had been diagnosed with MND

John Davidson training for the feat, alongside his son Lochlann.