Gail Wolstenholme (Team Organiser)
Charity: East Cheshire Hospice
I will be 57 when we take part in the Atlantic Challenge. Having worked in the IT Industry I later qualified as an IT Teacher. I currently manage a property porfolio. I have 2 sons who are 24 and 21 years old. My husband who I have been with for 29 years is a vital part of the Old Enough To Row Better support crew.
I'm a passionate rower and have rowed all over the North West of England and Wales. I have taken part in the Great River Race three times, which is a 21.6 miles long race on the Thames in London.
Having spent a great deal of my adult years caring for family members at the end of their life I recognise the invaluable work of East Cheshire Hospice in providing high quality end of life care and also the support they give to families of loved ones receiving their care.
Martyn Horleston
Charity: Men Unite
I am a 50 year-old kitchen fitter from Stoke-on-Trent, a husband to Lisa—my partner of over 27 years—and a proud dad to two amazing sons, Mason (21) and Myles (17).
I’ve always had a passion for team sports. I played football for several teams until I was 17, and for the past 30 years, I’ve been heavily involved with Meir Heath Cricket Club—as a player, captain, coach, and mentor. I’ve led successful teams, coached junior squads into adult cricket, and seen young talent grow into brilliant individuals both on and off the field.
In addition to cricket, I’ve also spent 9 years coaching the junior section at Trentham Rugby Club, helping to shape young players and fostering teamwork and discipline on and off the field.
I’m rowing in support of Men Unite, a charity focused on men’s mental health. Over the years, I’ve lost close friends and family members far too soon due to silent battles with mental health—lives that might have been saved with more support, more understanding, and more openness. This row is my way of helping break the silence.
This row is for the men who feel they can’t speak up, for those we’ve lost too soon, and for a future where no one suffers in silence.
Kevin Black
Charity: Warrior Expeditions
I will be 67 when I begin the Atlantic Challenge. Both my wife, Kristi, and I are retired U.S. Marines where we worked in the criminal justice field and deployed numerous times to the combat. I also retired from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs where I assisted servicemen and women applying for federal disability benefits. My wife and I have been together for 22 years. We have four children between us and five grandchildren.
I am an endurance athlete, having participated in dozens of marathons and ultra-marathons. I’ve also participated in many multi-day events and won the international Armed Forces Wilderness Challenge three times. I thru-hiked 4,280 km from Mexico to Canada on the Pacific Crest Trail after retiring from the military. Kristi and I have also ridden approximately 7,000 km on our bicycles across the United States on the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail. More recently, we rode our bicycles 1,770 km on the inaugural 9/11 Memorial Trail.
I am rowing to support Warrior Expeditions which provides sponsorships and support to combat veterans as they transition out of the military to hike, bike and paddle various long-distance trails and rivers as nature therapy. The famous naturalist, John Muir, put it best when he said, “In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.
Colin Anderson
Charity: Men Unite
Let’s be clear: I am only doing this because my wife, Maria, forced me to. After 25 years of marriage, she decided I needed a hobby that involved being thousands of miles away in the middle of the ocean. It is entirely her fault. While I’m dodging waves, our daughter Fran is busy conquering the music and radio world, clearly inheriting the family trait of making a lot of noise.
My life has been a series of career pivots that would give most people whiplash. I’ve been a programmer, a garden centre manager, and a sound engineer, with "world tour" stops in Bangkok and Dallas. I’ve popped up on the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 and written music that’s played globally (I even heard it being played at a Dallas Stars ice hockey game), but my true ego-fix is being the lead singer and guitarist for Leaf UK.
By day, I’m the Head of a Sixth Form, fueled by the raw energy of my students. I’ve tackled judo, cycling, and squash, but rowing is the challenge that won’t let me go. At 57, I’m rowing the Atlantic to prove that grey hair isn’t a surrender, it’s a vintage finish.
Most importantly, I’m rowing for Men Unite. Having lost former students to their battles with mental health, I’m determined to use this platform to ensure others don't have to face those dark waters alone.
Support Crew & Team PT Jade Rivers
Charity: East Cheshire Hospice
I am a fitness fanatic who has been pumping iron and crushing goals for over 20 years! As a pro coach and athlete, I've seen it all - from bodybuilding to marathon training, nutrition to life coaching. When I'm not managing the bodybuilding gym I own or helping clients achieve the impossible, you can find me romping with my fur babies or gazing out at the ocean. I'm excited to be taking part in the ultimate adventure: preparing the team to row the Atlantic!
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