A HEREFORDSHIRE man is celebrating reaching dry land after rowing more than 3,000 miles across the Atlantic. Martin Heseltine, 62, from Walford, near Ross-on-Wye, has spent the last 50 days all at sea as part of a four-man vegan crew rowing from Lanzarote to Antigua to raise money for men s mental health charity Humen and Chepstow animal sanctuary, the Dean Farm Trust. Not an adventure to be taken lightly, Martin and the crew rowed non-stop in alternating two-hour shifts, using muscle power alone and with no backup vessel to cover the 3,200 mile distance. The team faced storms, sleep deprivation, extreme fatigue and, at times, huge seas. They also had to cope with injury when crew member Matt Pritchard, more famously known as plant-loving prankster and chef The Dirty Vegan, tore a lateral muscle forcing him to take a break from rowing for several days, while Martin battled with painful tendonitis in his leg.
After more than a year of so much uncertainty and isolation we are yearning to throw open our gates and welcome visitors; families, schools, colleges, and community groups to come and meet each of our rescued animals, our permanent residents of Dean Farm Animal Sanctuary, said a spokesperson. To safely welcome visitors at Dean Farm Sanctuary and to protect our residents we need to create a designated, safe access area for our visitors, supporters, and volunteers. To do this we need to raise £5,500 to purchase a total of 300 metres of fencing, plus reinforced grass mesh providing accessibility for visitors. Quite a challenge but following such a difficult year of isolation for everyone, including our much-loved residents, we know with public support, with the help of our local communities, we can do this.