DAN PARSONS and OLLY CLARK will compete in the Atlantic Challenge race which takes place in December this year.

The 3,000-mile row across the Atlantic Ocean looks set to test their stamina, courage and teamwork as they aim to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK and ABF, The Soldiers’ Charity – two causes very close to their hearts.

In this interview the two men talk about how their friendship began and explain more about their training and preparation for the race of their lives.

To find out more about their challenge visit www.atlantic-row.com where you will also be able to donate to the charities benefiting from their efforts.

Could you tell us how you first met each other and what inspired you both to join up and enter the Atlantic Challenge?

Dan: Olly and I met on our first day at Loughborough University, when we were placed in the same halls. After the standard meet and greet and the usual first questions, we quickly realised we had been at school only a few miles away from one another and even had mutual friends. We’ve remained close since.

I was inspired by Ben Fogle and James Cracknell’s attempt which will be exactly ten years ago when we start. For me the thought of being properly self-sufficient for such a long period of time I find incredibly exciting.

Olly: Being dubbed as the toughest rowing race in the world and the fact that fewer people have achieved this feat than have been into space makes an awesome achievement.

What are the two charities you will be raising money for and how important are each of them to you personally?

Dan: The charities we have chosen are ABF, The Soldier’s Charity and Prostate Cancer UK. Both are close to our hearts.

Olly: As an Officer in the Royal Engineers who has served in Afghanistan, I’ve seen first hand both the effects of war and the work that ABF does to support soldiers and their families who require help. Dan’s father suffered with prostate cancer for a brief spell, so increased awareness and the importance of early diagnosis is something that we are hoping to get across in our messages. This challenge is the least we can do.

How hard are you currently training for the challenge and how difficult is it to put in that effort while also working full-time jobs?

Dan: It’s terribly hard to train while working full-time and being away from home regularly makes it is difficult to get into a routine. Gym is constrained to the evenings, with the additional task of the administrative side of the row, which is another huge part of what we are doing. I look forward to getting the boat into the container towards the end of October and focusing solely on the physical preparations.

Olly: Being in the army, it is easier to get into a routine. Every day is pretty much the same as below:

• 0630-0730 Training
• 0800-1230 Work
• 1230-1330 Lunch
• 1330-1900 Work
• 1900-2000 Dinner
• 2000-2100 Work
• 2130-2230 Gym
• 2230-2359 Row admin
• 0000-Sleep

There’s a twist when it comes to your row which will involve mini challenges along the way. Could you tell us more about this initiative and how the public can get involved?

Olly: To keep the adventure a bit more interesting we will be attempting some challenges along the way, such as building a house of cards or a 100m swim… We intend for the public to tweet a challenge to our team who can then relay a message on to us.

What are your fears and worries about sharing so much time together in such a small and confined place?

Olly: My main fear is failing the challenge, by not making it to the other side, as it will feel like two years of hard work down the drain with the exception of the money and awareness raised for the charities. Another concern is how I will cope with the challenge. Having not been in a boat for 40 plus days in the middle of an ocean I worry that I will not cope with it as well as I would like.

Dan: Olly and I, along with our families and friends have invested such a huge amount of time and effort in the preparation of this awesome challenge – I simply do not want to let anyone down – or myself for that matter. Capsizing at night will be very scary. While we will do our very best to avoid it, with us being such a small boat in an otherwise massive ocean, we stand little chance against mother nature and will be tossed around in bad weather.

What or who will keep you motivated during the race?

Olly: We will motivate each other. The drive to win and complete the challenge is motivation enough and the self pride not to turn back and to keep going. Finally lots of pain and sacrifices have been endured in the lead up to the challenge both on a personal note and for my family. However, these are nothing compared to the sacrifices and pain others have made within the Military and those unfortunate enough to have contracted prostate cancer.

Dan: I will be motivated by the thought of seeing my family and friends waiting for us at the finish line.

If you could sum up your message to those inspired by what you’re doing what would that message be?

Olly: Try to be one per cent better than yesterday! And remember, if it was easy everyone would do it!

Dan: Remove the word impossible from your vocabulary. Impossible is a dare. Chase your dreams and don’t be afraid to invest in them. Life is incredibly short and we have to do everything we can to live it to its fullest. Work hard and you can do, and achieve anything.