The 3rd of September 2022, marks 100 days until fearless fundraiser Mike Bates begins his 3,000 solo row across the Atlantic Ocean. 

The doting father of two was inspired to take on this mammoth fundraising challenge after his son Gabriel, affectionately known as Gabe was born prematurely and contracted meningitis, spending his first few months of life on the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at Leeds Children's Hospital.

Mike told us, “Without the amazing staff and facilities at Leeds Children’s Hospital our lives would be very different today. We're the lucky ones, but we met many families along the way that weren't so fortunate.” 

Mike has dubbed his fundraising challenge, ‘The Atlantic Grappler’ campaign, and is training hard every day in preparation for the grueling journey in December 2022. 

The determined dad is ready to face challenges along the way head-on, “I'll battle with sleep deprivation, salt sores and physical extremes inflicted by the race. Left alone with my own thoughts, the expanse of an ocean and the job of getting the boat safely to the other side.”

Follow Mike's journey on Instagram here.

Donate to Mike's fundraising efforts.