Neighbours with average age of 63 to row 100 miles

Ten friends with an average age of 63 are to row 100 miles from the North Sea to the Atlantic Ocean.

The team who all live in Corsley, near Warminster in Wiltshire, will set off on Monday from Inverness and are set to be at sea for five days.

Glen Senk from the group, who call themselves the Oarsome Oldies, explained none of them had ever rowed before, adding: "This will be really tough."

The group, who are aged from 56 to 70, has already raised more than £50,000 for local charities.

"The money raised is unbelievably motivating. So much more than any of us thought we'd raise," said group leader Mr Senk.

Mr Senk decided to take on the 100-mile row after being "inspired" by the son of a good friend, who recently rowed more than 2,000 miles from San Diego to Hawaii.

Once Mr Senk agreed to the shorter challenge, several of his neighbours also signed up, until there was a group of 10.

"None of us had ever rowed before.

"Quite frankly, some of us were not so fit," added Mr Senk, a businessman and former CEO of companies including Urban Outfitters.

Since training began last summer, it is estimated that between them the group has rowed more than 100,000 miles, shedding weight and gaining muscle in the process.

"We feel better than we've felt in years," Mr Senk said.

The 10 friends, who are all neighbours, will be rowing for 10 hours a day in shifts of two hours.

Joined by a professional rower, they will follow a route that takes in the Caledonian Canal, River Ness, and lochs Dochfour, Ness, Lochy and Linnhe, ending in Oban.

The journey is expected to take five days, travelling approximately 20 miles a day, depending on the weather.

The group is raising funds for four local organisations: I Can and I Am, Firefly International, Florence Nightingale Aid in Sickness Trust and Friends of St Margaret Church.

Mr Senk told BBC Radio Bristol they were so excited they had already committed to another challenge in a year's time.

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