12:50pm Thursday 4th June 2009
By Lucy Clark
A DETERMINED fundraiser is a third of the way through his mission to row all the way around the world – from Basingstoke.
Actor Dave Holby, 28, has now “arrived” in Alberta, Canada, on his record-breaking virtual circumnavigation of the globe.
From his rowing machine set up in The Malls, Basingstoke, Dave is a year into the challenge and has so far rowed 14,600km. He has a gruelling 25,500km to go.
Dave, of Rainham Close, Kempshott, took on the challenge to raise thousands of pounds for Breakthrough Breast Cancer – a charity he chose to support after losing his grandmother to breast cancer 19 years ago.
He aims to complete his marathon journey by the end of 2010 by rowing up to eight hours a day. He said: “It’s going great, and I’m still on target to finish by Christmas 2010.
“Everybody in town has been so supportive. I don’t think I could do this without the support of people stopping off and chatting.”
Dave and his brother Jonathan also set a new world record in Milton Keynes at the Newton Longville Festival of Transport.
They became the first brothers to set an endurance record on a rowing machine, claiming the fastest 100km tandem row for the heavyweight 20 to 29-year-olds category. It took them seven hours and 31 minutes. Dave also hopes to set a second world record when he completes the mammoth row.
Guinness World Records confirmed there is no current record for the feat, and they will open a new category especially for him.
To sponsor him, visit justgiving.com/worldrecordrow.
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