Men of Action: Remembering a Claude Holloway, A War Veteran and True Hero

Claude Holloway 

14 May 1919 - 25 March 2012

We are remembering Claude Holloway, a Second World War veteran and hero, who died last month.

This week marks the end of the final battles of the Second World War in Europe, a time to remember those who gave so much.

Claude was a renowned motor torpedo boat (MTB) Commander, and won a Distinguished Service Cross for his part in the Caorle Point action of April 1945.

Bit it was a Bari Harbour, when Claude showed pure heroism when he rescued dozens of men, almost loosing his life.

On December 2nd 1943, Luftwaffe attacked Bari Harbour while Claude's motor torpedo boat was moored there. In the attack, 17 ships were sunk. It is said that the entire harbour was ablaze and chaos loomed.

At the time of the attack, Claude was ashore, but chose to take his boat to the water, to save the survivors. A witness remembered:

'The MTB skipper... leapt with half his crew into the blazing sea to rescue a dozen Norwegian seamen.'

A Second World War Motor Torpedo Boat

The chaos at Bari Harbour which Claude found himself in the middle of

Claude did not escape unharmed. During the rescue, he fell into the water, which by was saturated with oil and dangerous chemicals. But Claude continued on and worked for hours to help save his comrades.

A remarkable display of heroism.

Where The Wild Geese Are Today: The Irish-Franco Relationship

After their defeat at The Battle of The Boyne, Patrick Sarsfield and his followers left Ireland. In the hope and belief that this would be a temporary strategic exile, they took the name The Wild Geese; birds that always return to their place of birth. 


This parting, however, proved to be permanent.


But this story lives on. 

The Battle of The Boyne 

The Legend of The Wild Geese echoes through the ages. Their influence in France has been recently documented at the Musee de l'Armee in Paris.

In The Irish and France: Three Centuries of Military Relations, the Irish-Franco relationship is explored, starting with Patrick Sarsfield and The Wild Geese right up the present day. The Irish contribution in France has seen many Irish heroes emerge and the stories in the exhibition are extremely moving.

Among them is the story of the Irish Ambulance Corps, which raised money and collected equipment and medical supplies to France, when the country was at war with Prussia in 1870.

The Irish Ambulance Corps was borne out of solidarity between Ireland and France, which had started back in 1691. It was established in Dublin by Patrick James Smyth, and often followed the French army on the battlefield, offering treatment to wounded soldiers.

The French Command described The Irish Ambulance Corps:

'Men of the Irish Ambulance Corps, you have undertaken a heavy task, but one which, if worthily performed, will gain for you the gratification of both of your own country and of France. You go in this hour of her dire distress to France, to assist in the care and relief of her wounded soldiers. You go to prove the sympathy which Ireland feels for France... You will be in the service of France, as your corps will be subject, as an ambulance corps, to the orders of the French government. Merit the respect of the French, and the Praise of your own countrymen, by your courage, your patience, your sobriety, your humanity, your faithfulness. Think that the loving eyes of Ireland are upon her sons representing her abroad in this holy and noble work... your duties will be arduous and dangerous, but you will face all those difficulties nobly, remembering that they are endured for France and Ireland!'

Inspired by this exhibition, we're putting together a new video that explores how The Wild Geese came to settle in France and will part of our video series Where The Wild Geese Are Today. 

If you haven't seen the first video in this series yet, you can jump over to Youtube to learn about The Wild Geese in San Antonio.

Men of Action: 'You Just Have To Keep Going'

In July 2010, Olympic rower James Cracknell attempted to run, swim, row and cycle across America, from Los Angeles to New York.

But on reaching Arizona, James suffered a tragic road accident in which he damaged his frontal lobe.

James had always been active, had always been adventurous, had always been a Man of Action. He's won two Olympic Gold Medals (at the 2000 and 2004 events) for Coxless Four rowing, as well as 6 World Championship Golds. And he wasn't going to let his accident stop him, or even slow him down. Like The Wild Geese, James fought through his difficulties and is now inspiring television audiences to explore the world around them.

His latest television series World's Toughest Expeditions has started on the Discovery Channel. In this series James emulates some of the greatest adventures from the past.

He describes the show as: 'The toughest moments of the toughest expeditions taken by some of history's toughest explorers'.

In his latest episode, he retraced the steps of Dr David Livingstone and travelled down the Zambezi River towards Victoria Falls.

Despite the challenges, which included coming dangerously close to a group of hippopotamuses, James's outlook is akin to that of The Wild Geese:

'You just have to keep going, you can't sit down and mope or curl up - it would just extend the misery'

Not used to quitting, The Wild Geese travelled to Europe when they had to leave their homeland and fought for the principals that they wholeheartedly believed in.

Just like James. Last month he also ran the London Marathon. He aimed to run it three hours, but wasn't too sure how his injury would effect his speed. But when it came down to it, he didn't let it effect his speed, and finished the Marathon in under three hours!

What we love about James is his sheer determination. This is what our brand celebrates. James isn't a quitter, just like The Wild Geese.

Remembering Louis Le Brocquy: Nurtured by Ireland, Celebrated By The World

Louis Le Brocquy 

1916 - 2012

Today we remember Louis Le Brocquy. The celebrated Irish artist passed away this week, but leaves a legacy of powerful artwork, which continues to inspire generation across boarders. 

Some of his most famous works are the evocative 'Portrait Heads' Le Brocquy produced of literary figures and fellow artists. These included his friends Samuel Beckett, Francis Bacon and Seamus Heaney. 

He was inspired to make the 'Portrait Heads' during a visit to the Musee de l'Homme in Paris. There, he discovered the Polynesian head cult: skulls overlaid in clay and painted to preserve the presence within. 

But Le Brocquy later revealed that he was not making a statement, but was instead trying to discover aspects of his subjects. He tried to find the 'Beckettness of Beckett' and the 'Baconness of Bacon'. 

His homeland played a significant part in nurturing his skilful expressions. In Michael Gravey's documentary 'An Other Way of Knowing', Le Brocquy explained a local cave near his holiday home just outside Ardgroom, Co. Cork had given him the basis for Samuel Beckett's mouth in the famous portraits of the writer.  

To mark his 90th birthday, Le Brocquy was honoured with exhibitions in London, Paris, Dublin, Cork and Limerick. 

'The show was demonstrative of Le Broacquy's lifelong approach to his work: elegant, articulate, purposeful and presented in the full knowledge that we was but part of a long cultural tradition reaching across nations and people' - James Hamilton

Poet John Montague remembers him in The Irish Times:

'Louis used white as other painters used shadow, and as he grew older and more frail, he began to look like a Louis le Brocquy, all finely blanched lines, with a light seeming to shine from within. His career as a painter has been exemplary, and we are all grateful'

Portrait of Samuel Beckett, a friend of Le Brocquy

Portrait of Francis Bacon

Portrait of William Butler Yeats

Men of Action: Getting Up and Carrying On

What do you see when you walk out of your front door?

The same street?

Danny MacAskill doesn't. He sees a canvas, an experiment. A chance to develop his skills and do the unimaginable.

Danny is a trails cyclist and this year has been celebrated for changing the way a street trials rider can define how we view urban landscapes by National Geographic.

Two years ago Danny released a video on Youtube that showed him performing different stunts around Edinburgh, Scotland. This went viral and quickly propelled Danny to a trials icon.

Since then, he's been featured in music videos and TV commercials. Last summer, he released a short film  called Industrial Revolutions, in which he performs stunts around an abandoned Scottish iron works. This received television coverage in the UK and inspired the National Geographic honour.

'It's fun to come up with these ridiculous ideas and then actually take them to places... the most important thing is that I do the best kind of riding I can'

Danny's story is more than one of success. His skill is part of his identity.

'I never had the goal of being a professional rider. I just wanted to ride my bike'

'I've never thought of going out and riding my bike as training. It's just fun'

But this isn't risk free. Danny accepts that bumps and grazes, and even serious injury are a part of the package.

'If I was bothered by it at all, I wouldn't do the kind of riding I do'

You can se in his videos that he isn't afraid to fall of his bike, and when he does he simply gets up and back on it. He does this because of the passion that runs through his veins.

We can relate to this. The Wild Geese faced many difficult trials. But their raw passion made sure that they carried on. They didn't relent and achieved some remarkable feats.

Danny MacAskill - a very inspiring Man of Action. We thought you should see what he can do yourselves, so we've posted his first video below - we're nice like that. It's hard to choose a favourite part, but 2:21 and 3:06 are mind-blowing.

Jennifer Pharr Davis: 'I Wanted The Ultimate Challenge', Hiking The Appalachian Trail

'Exploration can be twofold. It can be going to a new location or it can mean pushing through a physical boundary'

This is Jennifer Pharr Davis' philosophy on adventuring which got her across 14 different States when she hiked the Appalachian trail in North America. She completed the infamous trail that starts at Springer Mountain in Georgia and ends at Mount Katahdin in Maine last summer and set a new speed record time of 46 days, 11 hours, 20 minutes.

The Appalachia Trail route from Maine to Georgia. Jennifer started
in Maine and hiked southbound to break the speed record 

'We were exploring what people thought was possible, for what was possible on the Appalachian Trail,' explains Pharr Davis. For over twenty years, completion of the Trail had been kept to an elite club of Ultra Runners, who typically covered 30 - 50 miles per day in 11-13 hour periods. But Jennifer has been celebrated for tackling the Trail at her own pace.

'The idea was that my best was good enough for the overall record on the Appalachian Trail. I wanted the ultimate challenge. I didn't want to do anything less or anything easier'

She started everyday at 4:45am and hiked an average pace of 47 miles each day in 16 hour stretches. Starting in Maine in mid-June 2011, she took 46 days to cover the 2,181 Trail and hiked straight into the record books.

As a hiker, and not an ultra runner, Jennifer attracted a significant amount of criticism, mostly saying she couldn't keep up to the pace set by previous runners. But, like The Wild Geese, she went her own way. And, like The Wild Geese, achieved something remarkable.

But Jennifer shares other similarities with The Wild Geese. When asked about the appeal of the Appalachian Trail:

'It's home. There is a comfort when I'm in the Appalachian Mountains'

The Wild Geese never saw adventures in Ireland after 1691, but they always dreamed of returning. The feeling of accomplishing such a feat as Jennifer has in a place she calls home must be incomparable to anything else. Congratulations to Jennifer.

Three Times the Man (of Action)

In the summer of 2010, Alex Honnold scaled one of the world's most iconic rock formations in the world, not only once, but three times in 24 hours!

The 3,000 feet El Captain can be found in the Yosemite Valley, California. Alex and his climbing partner Shawn Leary summited El Captain three times, and tallied up a remarkable 8,000 vertical feet. 

El Captain, Yosemite Valley

But what goes up, must come down and the pair added another 9,000 feet of hiking down to the base again. 

'I didn't even know I could do something like that' explains Alex. 

'I really pushed some limits that time'

That he did. But this wasn't Alex's first time climbing in Yosemite Valley. Two years prior to this, he scaled Yosemite's Half Dome in an astonishing time of two hours and fifty minutes. Considering this climb usually takes between one or two days Alex proved himself to be a Man of Action at only 23 years old. 

'Climbing is a process that requires you to constantly make the move, to travel upwards'

In 2010, Alex had hoped to complete the 'Solo Linkup' which involves climbing the huge walls of El Captain and the Northwest Face of Half Dome. 

'The solo linkup I came up with spur of the moment, but the triple was monumental. Three times. Twenty-three hours. We were going speed route - actually moving continuously for a full 16 hours, which is kind of tiring, you know? That actually kind of pushed us. And having to hike down El Cap three times is sort of a lot of work'

But Alex maintains that his 'heart lies in Yosemite'. He is every inspired by its simplicity and beauty. 

We really liked reading about Alex's story. The Wild Geese were definitely Men of Action, but could not return to where their hearts lay - in Ireland. So it's really great to read about this adventurer who can immerse himself in the environment he loves so much - and achieve the extraordinary. 

Men of Action: Racing At The Top Of The World

The North Pole Marathon took place this Easter weekend, which combines polar adventure with marathon running - the perfect environment for Men of Action.

Now in its eighth year, the UVU North Pole Marathon is the only run to take place entirely on water (the frozen water of the Arctic Ocean). The circular route is 26.6 miles and competitors must run this ten times.

Irish novelist Michael Collins, a past competitor describes the course:

'It's the most amazing extreme marathon I have ever run. It brought runners to the limits of their endurance and lived up to its billing in every respect, affording athletes a chance to run and feel on top of the world'

This year proved to be an exciting challenge for all competitors involved. This year's Men's winner, Andre Murray finished in an extraordinary time of 4 hours, 17 minutes and 8 seconds. The fastest woman in the race was Demelza Farr, who finished with a time of 6 hours, 6 minutes and 36 seconds.

This year's winner describes the event:

'The North Pole Marathon is an experience of a lifetime. Whilst running, the views and the shapes of the ice are the best painkillers'

'What the race encapsulates is the sheer determination of everyone to succeed'

Most of the competitors have already returned home. Average temperatures can reach -35C, but the views that competitors were lucky enough to see counters this to some degree. This is a marathon that combines the harsh environment with natural, undisturbed beauty and completing this is a remarkable achievement.

Remembering Davy Crockett, Irish Hero and Man of Action

Our latest trip to San Antonio, Texas has been proof that Irish communities thrive all over the world. Like The Wild Geese, these communities dream of one day returning to Ireland. 

Some of the people we met over the St. Patrick's Day weekend in San Antonio are planning to travel to visit Ireland. To this, they need to travel over 4000 miles and make 3 different flight connections. But the draw of 'home' is enough to get them there. 

Forty men of Irish descent died at The Battle of The Alamo, who fought for freedom and liberty. With these men was Davy Crockett, the courageous solider and folk hero who dreamed of an independent Texas. 

He promised to defend the freedom of Texas and was forced into a siege at The Alamo. Bombarded by heavy artillery, Crockett and his followers were forced into a hand to hand fight. They were relentless and chose to give their lives for a free Texas. 

Today these men are remembered everyday at The Alamo, where people from all corners of the world visit each day. 

San Antonio epitomises a modern day chapter of The Wild Geese story and illustrates the fact that THE WILD GEESE IRISH SOLDIERS & HEROES brand and the experience of Irish people are one and the same. 

Men of Action: European Adventurer of the Year on the Search to Continue Conservation Work

It has been announced this month that Ed Stafford, a modern day adventure and Man of Action has joined the search for the next generation of environmental reporting. 

Working with Together for Trees, a partnership that works to conserve the world's rain forests, the competition seeks a new rainforest reporter who can highlight issues of conservation. 

Ed was named the European Adventurer of the Year in 2011 by the National Geographic Society, after spending two and half years in the Amazon region. This expedition, which he started in April 2008, lead him along the Amazon river, from its source to the Brazilian coast, where it meets the Atlantic Ocean. During this time, he raised awareness of the threats to rainforest environments and 

He's an ideal candidate to judge this competition:

'After having spent two years in the Amazon, saving the world's rainforests is an issue very close to my heart'

'I've witnessed first hand the destruction of these beautiful areas, so was really delighted to be asked to be involved in Together For Trees'

'For me, it is important that people, for generations to come, get to experience the wonder, beauty and benefits that only rainforests can provide'

There are few people who know these environments quite like Ed. He walked the 4000 mile length of the Amazon river in 859 days, which is an astonishing feat. 

Even before he set off, most people had already written the former army captain off. Many critics said Ed would likely die on the trek or be forced to abandon it.  

But he marched through dangerous animals, harsh terrain, and local indigenous people, many of which had never seen a westerner before.

'There were genuine looks of absolute terror when we arrived in communities'

Ed and his guide, a Peruvian forestry worker named Gadiel 'Cho' Rivera, were detained, threatened and chased by some of the local communities.

But one tribe's chief agreed to travel with them across their native lands. 

'The chief ended up walking with us for 47 days... we became good mates'

Ed and Cho on their journey

The high and low points all culminated in a tremendous adventure. Spurred on by the thought of becoming the first man to achieve this feat and his undying passion for protecting rainforest environments, Ed reached the end in August 2010. 

'The positivity around us here was incredible. The locals came out, they were playing live music, they were dancing on the beach, and the media attention was incredible'

This positive energy will be a key component in judging Together For Trees' competition. We're really looking forward to his next expedition, which he had planned to start in 2012. 

For more information about the Together For Trees competition, visit www.tesco.com/trees. 

Men of Action: Ireland Secure Win at the Six Nations

Ireland 32 - 14 Scotland

Ireland found itself in an intense battle in the Six Nations rugby last Saturday. With each team leaving their previous match without a win, a victory was vital to progression in the 2012 championship.

Ireland had a significantly strong start to the game. But it wasn't without it's challenges. The Irish team had lost it's first two captains due to injury. With Brian O'Driscoll and Paul O'Connell on the bench, many critics thought the team would fall apart. This is something Ireland's lock, Donnch O'Callaghan recognised going in to last weekend's match:

'When you're missing two guys of their calibre it gives opponents a bit of confidence'

'It's important that when there's a bit of a void, other people step up and that's what happened throughout the team against Scotland'

Ireland was not short of stars during the game. Captain Rory Best, Eoin Reddan and Andrew Trimble all scored tries in the first half, securing a strong lead for Ireland going into the second half. 

Stepping up to the captaincy must have been daunting for Rory Best. But he kept calm and issued a thoughtful game plan. His early decision to kick to the corner instead of trying for three points was a risky manoeuvre. But Best followed the thought through, which resulted in the first try of the game and set the pace for the remainder. 

'We just thought we would keep the pressure on them and it is nice when those things pay off'

Rory Best

Most importantly, his team had confidence in him. Ireland's blindside flanker, Stephen Ferris outlines this:

'I think his leadership from day one in the camp, all those weeks ago alongside Paul O'Connell [former captain], has been great. He's helped out Paul in the last numbers of the weeks and he was the perfect man to come in there and lead us out there today'

'He just says what everyone needs to hear. He doesn't say an awful lot but what he does sinks in'

But the moment of the match came from Richie Gray, who ended a 30 metre run to the line with a try. A tight second half was out to rest with a try from Fergus McFadden, which secured the win for Ireland. 

Rory Best was very pleased with the final result especially because 'to score 32 points against the Scottish team you take a lot of confidence into next week', when Ireland meets England at Twickenham. It will certainly be a St. Patrick's Day to remember. 

For coach Declan Kidney, Saturday's win is an opportunity to measure Ireland's progress:

'I think our decision-making is getting better all the time, when to move it, when to play position, we are asking more questions of the opposition'

The celebrations will be short as preparation for next Saturday's match begins. Like The Wild Geese, the team will be looking toward the nation they represent. 

'This team is super professional. Other people in Ireland are working harder than we are. Why shouldn't we work hard?'

Congratulations to the entire team for a very impressive win!

Men of Action: Argus Cycle Tour 2012, Cape Town

This Sunday is the annual Argus Cycle Race, taking place in Cape Town, South Africa.

This is a unique opportunity for cycles to come together and challenge themselves to compete in one f the world's largest sporting events. 31,000 cyclists are expected to take part and will each challenge themselves to finish the 109km which will take them through some of the Cape's most mesmerising scenery.

People from all walks of life have been training hard for the race. Each face is there for their own reasons, whether its for the exhilaration of the competition, a personal challenge, or to raise awareness for a cause close to their hearts. 

Rick Lawrence's team, 'Race for Rhinos' is taking action to raise money for the protection of rhinos from poaching in South Africa:

'Our bikes will be decorated and our tops will make us recognisable as the Race for the Rhino team. We have targeted finishing the race inside five hours and hope that people recognise the efforts of the riders and that give generously to this cause

They have already received a great deal of support from local businesses and have choses the Argus race as a springboard for growing support for the charity. Their project seeks to grow a sustainable habitat, where the critically endangered Black Rhino in KwaZulu-Natal, a province of South Africa. In this habitat, the animals will be able to roam freely and grow their numbers in safety. 

They will make up a significant portion of the race competitors, as Lawrence outlines:

'We have a team of 50 cyclists competing in the 2012 Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour, who are all riding to raise funds and try and make a difference'

Another competitor is Helen Harder, who is battling cancer. She was diagnosed in February 2011 and at last year's Argus Cycle Tour her boyfriend, Alwyn Badenhorst completed the race in honour of her. This year, she is planning to complete it with him. 

'I want to raise awareness, but also show the people what one can do while getting chemo... accept the challenges you get in your life and face them. That's what I'm doing'

Really inspiring. The Argus Cycle Tour is not just an environment to raise awareness, but also to test oneself. Although she's nervous, Helen is going into the race with a positive attitude:

'You have to react and adapt'

If you want to see the race route, a collaborative project has produced a video that take you along the route in just under ten minutes.

Made by Game On and Rockets Compression Sportswear, both based in South Africa, the video was made by driving the entire Argus Route and then editing the clip to speed up the footage. The route looks tough, but we're sure the atmosphere will be buzzing on March 11th when the competitors cycle the 109km route and wish them all the best of luck!

Modern Day Herald: Remembering Rémi Ochlik

Rémi Ochlik

16 October 1983 - 22 February 2012

Over the past week, many words have been attributed to Rémi Ochlik, the French photographer who died in a Syrian bombing. Perfectionist. Cool-headed guy. Hero. But Bruno Stevens, one of Rémi's colleagues prefers the word 'Herald':

'I use the word in the etymological and historical sense of "herald": a man of great value in charge of conveying the most important messages of his time'

And that he did. Ochlik was truly a Man of Action, and sought out modern front lines to capture the attrocities and injustices that take place beyond our television screens. If his associate Marie Colvin gave the innocent a voice, Ochlik fought to give them a face. This face changed many times over his career, from rioting in Haiti to protesting in Libya, but the message remained constant: the struggle of the oppressed. 

Rémi's commitment won him critical acclaim at this year's World Press Photo contest. His 'Battle for Libya' collection of photographs won the first prize in the General News category. 

But there was no time for celebration and congratulations. This only spurred Rémi on to work harder and be better. 

His friend at Paris Match remembers:

'He never celebrated. He left a few hours afterwards [for Syria]... he wasn't the kind of guy who would gloat for winning a prize. it was the kind of this that made him work harder'

Tragically, Rémi won't see the World Press awards ceremony in April, but we're sure he will be remembered and celebrated. Rémi was truly one of the most talented photojournalists around. Jean-François Leroy, the head of the major international photojournalism festival Visa Pour L'lmage remembers the exciting potential Rémi showed from the outset. 

'Someone showed me this work on the events in Haiti. I was very beautiful, very strong. I didn't know the guy who'd done it. I asked him to come in. He's called Rémi Ochlik, he's 20. He worked alone, like a big guy. There you go. Photojournalism is not dead'

An example of Remi's early work in Haiti

He invigorated the industry, breaking new frontiers and exposing brutally real images. But this fire will not burn out, as Bruno Stevens concludes his tribute:

'Marie [Colvin] and Rémi are not dead: under each of her words, behind each of his photographs, their pure hearts are beating strongly for a better future'

Giving a Voice to the Voiceless: Remembering Marie Colvin

Marie Colvin 

12 January 1956 - 22 February 2012

Today we honour the courageous Marie Colvin, a front line journalist who was impassioned to bring truth to readers around the world. She was recently killed while reporting on the crisis in Syria when her building was bombed. She died alongside French photographer Rémi Ochlik, who was on hand to document images of the conflict. 

No stranger to the intense demands of the front line, Marie placed herself in incredible to danger in order to fulfil a personal goal of hers. In 2001, while reporting on the conflict between government forces and rebel Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka, Marie lost the sight in her left eye following an attack.

This was a time for her to reflect on the choices she was making. Undeterred, she continued to commit herself to her life's work.

'My job is to bear witness. I have never been interested in knowing what make of plane had just bombed a village or whether the artillery that fired at it was 120mm or 155mm'

For Marie, conflict was a human story, rather than a political or religious one. And it had human consequences.

'These are people who have no voice. I feel I have a moral responsibility towards them, that it would be cowardly to ignore them. If journalists have a chance to save their lives, they should do so'

Although her words resonated across the world, and her style became synonymous with the truth, Marie was someone who took action. Fearless and heroic, she judged the impact of conflict on innocents to be unfair. In 1999, while reporting in East Timor, she refused to leave a besieged compound which was being attacked by Indonesian-backed forces. The compound had 1,500 women and children inside - innocents who could not be ignored. Marie stayed with an unarmed UN force, and reported her experiences to the world. With the global community watching the events unfold, she was able to help secure evacuation of all 1,500 people after a tumultuous four days.

We jon the international community in remembering and celebrating her life.

Lord Justice Leveson said:

'There is no better example of the very best in journalism than that provided by Marie Colvin'

'To say that she was a fine reporter does not do justice to the tribute that she is owed and which I am very pleased to acknowledge' 

Her friend and fellow journalist Jim Muir wrote:

'She had an absolute compulsion to go to where bad things were happening, and tell the world about it'

'If there is a scale of courage, Marie was at the top of it. Because she knew the reality of war, and there are no guardian angels... her coverage was the bravado of the foolhardy who imagine themselves invulnerable'

'It was the quiet determination of someone who had to do what she believed she was for; knowing the risks and possible consequences. To tell the story and give a voice to the voiceless'

We thank her for humanising the news. We remember for her courage. We celebrate her for her action.

Team of Heroines Cross the Atlantic in 45 Days

Julia Immonen decided it was time to take action. Shocked by the fact that human trafficking is still a global issue, she brought a team of five women together to raise money to help the modern day fight for Freedom For Everyone. At first, the all-female team elicited mixed responses:

'A lot of people thought, "these girls can talk the talk, but they have gone into this with rose-tinted glasses"' said Julia, who put together the team.

The director's assistant at Sky Sports News searched far and wide for a team to complete a 2,613 mile journey from the Canary Islands to Barbados. Her recruits came from all corners of the world, from Ireland to Dubai and barely knew each other when they took to the water. The team evolved into Row For Freedom, and raised money for two anti-trafficking charities - A21 Campaign and ECPAT UK.

'I felt such an urgency to do something. For a couple of months I was so frustrated as to what I could do to make a difference'

The Row For Freedom team: Kate Richardson, Debbie Beadle,
Julia Immonen, Kate Pattison-Hart and Helen Leigh

The team left the Canary Islands in December 2011 and were determined to prove they could walk the walk. 

Their journey across the Atlantic was intense. Fittingly, the ladies chose a route that was used in the early slave trade and faced 50ft waves and were rowing 24 hours a day. 

'We were up every two hours, so the sleep deprivation was hard and 3000 miles felt like an overwhelming distance, especially on a day when the water was like treacle and we might only to three miles'

'We were knocked off our feet by the waves all the time, but no one fell overboard. I can see them now, three swells of massive waves coming towards us. We never knew if they'd break over us or not'

- Julia

Unpredictable weather conditions was not their only challenge. The auto helm, which helps steer the boat broke, and within days of setting off,  their hydration equipment also broke which meant they had to spend up to 20 hours a day producing drinkable water with a hand pump. 

But the ladies persevered, and relentlessly continued their trek to Barbados, never capsizing and appreciating both the peaks and troths of their adventure. 

'We'd see the most breathtaking sunsets and sunrises or a shooting star at night and that would keep you going'

The ladies completed their challenge in 45 days, 15 hours, 26 minutes. Astonishing. But that wasn't all. Not only were they the first five woman team to cross the Atlantic, but also the fastest female team to do so. 

'Getting the record was really amazing' explained the team captain Debbie Beadle. 'It was something we worked hard for and were really determined to achieve when we set out'. 

Their story reminds us of The Wild Geese, who also faced testing seas to pursue their own sense of freedom. Like The Wild Geese, the Row For Freedom team also bonded on their adventure, and not only had to pull together to complete their challenge, but were also each others' support and safety nets. 

Debbie Beadle admitted: 'We got to know each other very well'. Especially when the chaffing made their skin sore. At times, the women abandoned all modesty and rowed naked! 

'We spent a lot of time rowing naked because when the sea water gets inside your clothes, it increases friction against your skin which can cause sores'

This camaraderie and the support network the women built up is incredibly inspiring. Two challenges faced the Row For Freedom team: the physical journey and the mental one. As they worked together as a team to defeat the physical challenge, they turned to one another like family to combat the mental one.  We think of 1691, when The Wild Geese had to support each other as they journeyed to new lands. The support of a friend and comrade is priceless. 

On reflection of the journey, Julia says:

'I'm just so thankful we got there and I wouldn't change the challenges we had. We learnt to embrace them - and there were so many'

They have so far raised between £60,000 and £70,000 and are planning a similar challenge in North Africa. To donate to this inspiring cause, you can visit www.rowforfreedom.com/donate.