Supporting good causes - Forget me Knot

We are extremely proud to be supporting the team of Forget Me Knot who from January 2022 will row nearly 4,000 miles of open ocean to raise funding and awareness for those who care for dementia patients by supporting Dementia UK Admiral Nurses. The team have no formal rowing experience and yet have managed to reach their destination at the Port of Cayenne in the French Guyana of South America after 63 days, 19 hours and 17 minutes at sea at the time of writing this - truly incredible!

Their mission is to help those impacted by Dementia

Keeping them going through the bad weather, nine metre waves in the pitch black of night and the restless nights with broken water purification systems is a devotion to raising funds and awareness for those who care for dementia patients by supporting Dementia UK Admiral Nurses.

Admiral Nurses work alongside people with dementia, and their families: giving them one-to-one support, expert guidance and practical solutions. The unique dementia expertise and experience an Admiral Nurse brings is a lifeline – it helps families to live more positively with dementia in the present, and to face the challenges of tomorrow with more confidence and less fear. 700,000 families in the UK care for people with dementia. The relentless demands of care commonly lead to depression and mental health problems - but few carers seek support.

Crewman Johnnie sadly saw the anguish that dementia brings to the patient and carer alike over the 15-year period that his dad suffered from the disease. Rowing 24hrs in all weather and high seas, the expedition will be long and gruelling - but not in comparison to the daily challenges faced by many dementia carers. The team will complete this challenge to raise funds for others facing a similar ordeal and with the thousands of caregivers at the forefront of their minds.

Along the way, they hope to aid in gaining more data in the Atlantic ocean

Today less than 5% of the oceans are comprehensively monitored so the team will also collect rare oceanography data from the sparsely navigated stretches of the Atlantic Ocean. This will help to gain more insight into the current marine mammal activity, allowing researchers to better understand threats, migration patterns and the lives of these wonderful species.

The team will work with academic partners at SeaSearch to publish their data and ensure meaningful environmental research comes from the expedition. This will be achieved by attaching a specialist hydrophone to the rowing vessel that will constantly record marine activities. Such a recording would be near impossible to obtain by other means due to engine noise, cost and the distance covered.

Gusto GEN are proudly supporting the three friends on a great mission

"We’re incredibly happy to be able to support the team of Forget me Knot in their attempt to break two world records for rowing across the Atlantic from Portugal to South America in support of the charity Dementia UK.

The team will be the first trio to ever attempt this journey and aim to beat the current crossing record of 50 days.

These brave three men, Johnnie Ball, Stefan Vine and Dirk Von Delft, have no previous rowing experience. They do however have bags of enthusiasm and an incredible will to help others.

Gusto RPW wishes the team the best of luck and fair weather. They need all the help they can get!”

How you can get involved

You can also show your support by donating here. Their goal is to reach £100,000 and your support will allow them to dedicate more time to fundraising and providing them with the equipment and resources needed for the challenge as well as raise vital funds for Dementia UK and gather crucial data on marine mammals.

You can also follow them by watching their progress on the interactive map below.