Robin, Billy James, Barry

A British man with Parkinson’s and his three teammates are planning to row their way into the record books by becoming the fastest four-man crew to row the Indian Ocean. The quartet will row 3,600 nautical miles, non-stop and unassisted, to raise awareness and funds for Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease.

The remarkable journey, which marks 200-years since Parkinson’s forefather James Parkinson’s first publication of the disease, will start in Exmouth in Western Australia in June and end in Port Louis, Mauritius. Robin Buttery, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s two years ago at the age of 43, will be joined by skipper Billy Taylor and fellow rowers Barry Hayes and James Plumley.

Skipper Billy Taylor said, “Rowing the Indian Ocean is no easy feat at the best of times – the physical and mental challenge will be enormous for all of us. Having Robin on board has changed the entire project – it’s no longer about four idiots taking on a huge endurance challenge. Now, it has become a platform in which Robin can reach out to people with Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease and raise awareness of this condition that so few people know about.”

Robin Buttery said, “Having Parkinson’s or any disability for that matter is no barrier to pursuing your goals. I want to encourage others with a Parkinson’s diagnosis to take up exercise (in whatever form works for them), and use it to help combat the symptoms associated with the disease. A life of adventure does not have to end with a diagnosis.”

Oxford Brookes University will closely monitor Robin’s performance to understand more about Parkinson’s disease.

Professor Helen Dawes who leads the Movement Science Group at the University said, “Anyone involved in sport will know that motor skills and fitness improve with practice and that your movement is affected when you are tired.

“We willmonitor motor skill changes, alongside physiological and emotional responses.  It’s an importantpiece of research that will help us better understandhow the metabolic, cardiovascular and neuro-muscular systems cope and adapt to prolonged endurance activity.

“We are beginning understand more about how Parkinson’s effects metabolic pathways. Robin taking on this challenge is a unique opportunity to observe the effects of extreme endurance exercise – it has the potential to provide some important insights that may help to redefine how Parkinson’s is viewed and ultimately treated through new drug therapies and neuro-rehabilitation programmes. We’re hoping the findings will send the search for therapies and a cure in a new direction,” Professor Dawes said.

The four-man crew, three of whom are already record breakers, plan to beat the current world speed record, which is 71 days. Less than 20 crews have successfully completed the crossing and there have been many more failed attempts.

The men will have no support team and will be taking it in turns to row two hours on, two hours off, day and night. They have a three-month supply of freeze-dried food packages and a desalinator that turns sea water into drinking water.

The journey will be fraught with many dangers and discomforts according to the skipper. “The boat is designed to withstand anything Mother Nature can throw at us but there are other dangers that aren’t so obvious – sea sickness and dehydration can be life threatening and we have to watch out for whales and passing tankers,” he said.

Former Olympian and renowned sports scientist, Professor Greg Whyte has been working closely with the men in helping them prepare for the row across the Indian Ocean.

“The boys have worked incredibly hard for this row – they’re driven and tenacious, which is crucial when undertaking a challenge of this enormity.  They will be pushing their bodies to the absolute limit and the pressure on them to succeed will be immense.  This is where their mental strength will be vital in overcoming any doubts or fears during the challenge.

“Having worked with Billy on his 2014 row across the Pacific, and with the pedigree that the crew already possess in the sport of Ocean rowing, I believe that they’re more than ready and I have no doubt they will succeed,” he said.

The men have support from several high-profile people including Paul Mayhew-Archer who also has Parkinson’s disease. “We all find ways of defying our Parkinson’s. I make jokes about it. Robin Buttery has chosen to row across the Indian Ocean. I can’t help feeling my way is a bit easier.

“I am full of admiration for Robin, Billy, Barry and James. They are clearly four of the most incredibly courageous, inspirational and determined total lunatics on the planet,” he said.

  1. The boat will be fitted with a tracker so the crew’s progress can be followed online and they will also live-stream to schools around the UK so children can chat to them about various topics such as geography, oceanography and marine conservation.

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