Aldo Diana will start his latest challenge at 10am on Friday 5 September with the help of a rowing partner and several firefighters from Southall Fire Station and neighbouring Feltham.
The gruelling task will last till 10pm on Saturday and the public will be encouraged to come into the station and cheer him on, and get fire safety advice at the same time.
Aldo hopes to raise £100,000 for the Restoration of Appearance and Function Trust (RAFT) which funds reconstructive plastic surgery research to restore the lives of people who have been affected by burns or other skin traumas.
Whilst Aldo will be doing nine of the 18 two hour sessions, this will only be a fraction of the epic 3,000 mile journey he intends to start in December. The voyage which is expected to last 60 days will start - weather permitting - from La Gomera in the Canary Islands, heading for English Harbour in Antigua.
Every moment of Aldo’s free time has been taken up with the building of his 24 foot boat, comprising 500 pieces, in his garage. A replica of the boat which will accompany him on his voyage will also be at Chelsea Fire Station for all to see.
The row will be the greatest challenge to date for the former Royal Marine who has also cycled from Lands End to John O'Groats and ran the Marathon Des-sables in the Sahara Desert in 2005 (six marathons in six days). He ran this year's London Marathon carrying a replica of his boat, but confesses a fear of water.
“I will have a life jacket on at all times but it's a huge challenge,” said Aldo. “More people have climbed Everest than rowed the Atlantic.”
He continued; “Every three or four days I will have to go overboard and scrape off the barnacles which build up and slow you down. Some recent rowers who attempted the Atlantic had a shark follow them so I'm a bit worried about getting a nip. I can see with the mask but it's the one's you can't see that worry me.”
London Fire Commissioner Ron Dobson, said; “I would like to congratulate Aldo on all his hard work for a great cause, and I wish him all the best in this challenge and his journey across the Atlantic.”
