SAIRA KHAN’S PICK OF THE WEEK

I am so inspired by Kat Cordiner, Charlotte Irving and ‘

Abby Johnston, who are rowing 3,000 miles across the Atlantic this December to raise money for three cancer charities; Cancer Research UK, Macmillan and The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.

They are participating in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge and hope to set a new world speed record.

It’s brilliant to see three women leading from the front and doing something incredible. The thought of them going out on a 23ft boat for up to 60 days, rowing two hours on, two hours off continuously, is incredible.

What I love about this journey is that they are fearless. One of the ladies, Kat, was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2019 and last July she was told it had come back. A lot of us see cancer as a death sentence but with the right help, funding and research, we’re finding more and more people can be saved. I know cancer patients and charities have really suffered during the pandemic, so to fundraise for them is phenomenal.

Charlotte, Abby and Kat (top, from left) might spark a lightbulb moment in someone else’s head, who has always wanted to do something like this but doesn’t ‘ believe they can. As their team name suggests, they are three ordinary women, but they’re doing something extraOARdinary.

This amazing story shows that we can achieve our goals and dreams if we push ourselves outside our comfort zones.

Team ExtraOARdinary is holding a fundraising ball on 18 September 2021 at Grosvenor House, Park Lane, London. To buy a ticket, visit weareextraoardinary.com.