Essex officer rowing the Atlantic to raise money for charity

AN Essex police officer is poised to break a world record in order to raise awareness about plastic pollution.

PC Dawn Wood will attempt to row an incredible 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean, aiming to raise £25,000 for the Marine Conservation Society in the process.

Not content with just raising money for the society, Dawn has also been visiting schools in her free time to educate children about plastic pollution and the effects it is having on marine life.

Dawn, said: “I’m trying to break the world record, I’m trying to raise awareness about plastic pollution and I’m trying to inspire others as well.

“I’m not an athlete, I was never an academic but I’ve found something that I’m good at and I want to work hard to achieve something. If I can achieve the world record that would be great and if I can achieve just getting across, that is still an amazing achievement.”

If Dawn is to achieve the world record, she will need to surpass Kiko Matthews’s effort, who completed the journey in 49 days. Upon completion she will become just the seventh woman in the world to have completed the crossing.

However, Dawn is no stranger to the water as a Marine Unit skipper with 16 years’ experience on the team during her 22-year policing career.

The Essex officer will begin her mammoth row on January 4^th and says that she has been overwhelmed by the support she has received so far.

One of her friends got in touch with Ben Fogle to send a message of support as a fellow rower who himself rowed the Atlantic Ocean.

“He sent me a really nice video message,” Dawn says, “Honestly, I really couldn’t do this without all the support I’ve been getting from around the world.”

You can support Dawn, find out more about her expedition, and track her progress through her webpage: www.rowaurora.co.uk.