A TAUNTON man is part of a team of four in training to row 3,000 miles across the Atlantic.

Rufus Mitchell-Heggs and his colleagues are taking part in the Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge in December 2022.

They will tackle the challenge unsupported, rowing in pairs for two hours on and two hours off.

Rufus, along with Devonian Tim Pratt and Norwegians Thor-Martin Sandtory and Simen Sandtory-Hansen, will face waves of up to six metres and burn an average 7,000 calories a day.

"The team, known as the Enginoars, are setting out with a goal of raising £100,000 for our charity partners Engineers without Borders (EwB) and to support their projects in driving global responsible and sustainable engineering," said Rufus.

"The challenge first came to the team due to our mutual passion for adventuring.

"However, as our campaign grew, we realised that a great adventure should be linked with a great cause.

"As every day people that share the constant warnings about climate change, we wanted to do something.

"I work in neuroscience and healthcare consulting, making it very difficult to see how I could impact this colossal challenge.

"Enginoars, became my something."

The team has been talking to businesses, schools and universities about careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and how they can do more for a sustainable planet.

When they are not doing outreach, they can be spotted hiking with rowing machines around Devon, Cornwall and Bergen, in Norway.

Tim said: "We wanted to both train and connect with our why.

"By rowing in amazing natural locations, we remind ourselves what we are protecting."

The Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge sees up to 30 teams row between San Sebastian, in La Gomera, Canary Islands, to Nelson's Dockyard, Antigua and Barbuda.