Team Seasoar have fundraised an amazing £82,781 for Lyme Disease UK following their epic 3,000 mile race from La Gomera in the Canary Islands to Antigua in the Caribbean, as part of the World’s Toughest Row!
We are extremely grateful to John Watling, Niall Brannigan, Sam Weber and Jason Wilder, their family and friends, all sponsors and everyone who has donated to this huge fundraising effort. They were inspired to take part after talking with John, whose daughter Yasmin Watling, has been battling the disease for a number of years.
Lyme Disease UK’s Co-founder and Chair, Natasha Metcalf, and Communications Manager, Joanne Lee, waved off the team in La Gomera in December 2024 and later welcomed them to Antigua on self-funded trips, expressing the Lyme community’s heartfelt thanks for their support.
Natasha and Jo prepare to welcome the team to Antigua
Watch below to hear John discuss the experience on ITV News West Country earlier this year. To learn more from John about the team’s epic adventure, hear him speak at a fundraising lunch at the historic Bowood Hotel Resort in Wiltshire on Saturday 19th July 2025.
Thank you so much for the continued support John! More information and booking details are outlined further down on this page.
(Photo Credit: World’s Toughest Row)
The challenge
- Alternating 2 hour rowing shifts, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for around 6 weeks.
- 1.5 million oar strokes.
- 5,000 calories burned each day.
- Battling the elements including 20 foot waves, the never-ending damp, cold nights and extreme heat.
- Isolation, seasickness, salt sores, blistered hands, joint pain, limited sleep, and exhaustion.
- Additional risks including mechanical issues, illness, injuries and accidents, Giant Marlin strikes, sharks and whales.
The team experienced numerous highs and lows during what turned out to be 52 days at sea. Extreme weather conditions and an early capsize were huge obstacles to face, as well as the isolation, distance from loved ones, cramped quarters and unappealing dried food. The physical and mental challenge of a gruelling rowing schedule allowing only limited rest or sleep, truly took a toll.
The World’s Toughest Row pushed the men to their limits but was also an amazing, empowering achievement of which they should feel very proud. The beauty of the never-ending ocean, the huge skies and amazing sea life had to be seen to be believed. Few people conquer such a challenge or take prolonged time away from the world, allowing them to really reflect on their lives, and in this case the struggles of the patients they had committed to help. A journey not for the faint-hearted, but an experience of a lifetime nevertheless!
Listen to John and Niall as they reflect on their adventure and watch the team’s official race finish video.
Supporting Lyme patients
Lyme disease patients can face numerous challenges in gaining a quick diagnosis and appropriate medical care. Improved testing and treatment options are desperately needed, particularly for late-stage cases. Without a known tick bite or erythema migrans (EM) rash, the chance of misdiagnosis is high. Read our Lyme disease facts and patient case studies to learn more about the issues and how medical awareness needs to improve.
Following the announcement of the team’s amazing fundraising success, Natasha Metcalf expressed her deepest thanks to everyone involved in the row.
“We are so incredibly grateful to Team Seasoar, and their families and friends, who have gone above and beyond to support the team through months of preparation, as well as gruelling weeks away at sea. Our deepest thanks go to all of our sponsors for their generosity and to everyone that donated to support our cause.
We will continue to raise awareness about Lyme disease and the issues around testing and treatment facing patients in the UK. Fundraising ventures on this scale go a long way in helping us to support our community and will allow us to collaborate on opportunities that have scope to bring meaningful change.
Focus needs to be on improving public and medical awareness, and on research, in order to transform the lives of a patient group hugely neglected for far too long. It’s clear that these large endurance events bring people together in a way that really makes an impact. So our message to anyone who wants to tackle their own epic challenge is… please don’t hesitate to get in touch!”
Catching up with Team Seasoar
We checked in with Team Seasoar recently to see how they were feeling after adapting to life back at home. It was great to hear that John and Sam have had opportunity to become inspiring, motivational speakers, sharing their experiences about their time at sea and the challenges they’ve faced. Jason also touched base with us to share the following message.
“In preparation for the row, I had the opportunity to meet many people from the Lyme Disease UK community during our pre-row fundraising events. Some had Lyme disease or were close family. It was great to meet them all and be part of the fundraising campaign.”
We asked some key questions to help others thinking of undertaking a similar challenge.
Why did you want to take part in the World’s Toughest Row?
“Following on from the previous extreme challenges I had taken part in, the World’s Toughest Row presented the ultimate of challenges that would test the very fibre of my physical and psychological abilities!” ~ Sam
“I was inspired to take part in the World’s Toughest Row by a friend and fellow rower David Murray. He sort of lit the flame and then the opportunity to do some good for Lyme Disease UK soon then came on the radar. Obviously with the connection of having our eldest daughter, Yasmin, with Lyme disease, it was a no brainer for me.” ~ John
“I had finished a 200 mile race through the Sahara desert and I suppose on the back of that… I was hungry for something just as insane. A fellow runner had asked what was next for me. Not an unusual question as I’ve come to learn that following a huge event which takes months, or even years in our case for the row, in the planning, there’s normally a big dip in mood immediately after the event and so people tend to have a future event planned to negate this feeling. I hadn’t planned for another event after the desert but was desperate to find something. Another runner had said to me, after a few pints, that there’s a race where people can row a boat 3,000 miles across the Atlantic. From that very second he told me this I knew I’d be rowing the ocean one day, and so began the campaign to find a boat and a like minded crew.” ~ Niall
How are you feeling now that you are back on dry land?
“To start with it was difficult to adjust, however within a week of arriving home I started a new career which sees me living in Yorkshire 3-4 days a week, so in effect a new challenge. Now I’m planning a new adventure for 2028 – watch this space!” ~ Sam
“Now we’re back on dry land, it’s taken a little bit of adjusting actually physically… and then the mental side has followed on behind… It’s been a positive readjustment and a realignment.” ~ John
“It took a while to adjust to being back on dry land. Not just physically with ‘land sickness’, a very real opposition to sea-sickness, which took several weeks to truly have no more effects, but mentally too. Most mornings following for perhaps a fortnight after landing, resulted in an unsteadiness not too dissimilar to the effects of having a few pints… which was sometimes laughable! It was like ‘When’s this going to stop?’ ” ~ Niall
“…on more than one occasion in the following weeks, I would wake in the middle of the night thinking my bed was ‘pinned’ (trapped) in a wave side-on, and I was using my duvet to steer myself out of it!! I’d realise what I was doing after a few minutes and laugh myself back to sleep!! That’s the effects of the row. On the other side now, four months later, it’s just a great memory and I’m looking at and planning my next adventure. I hope to be included in the staff of this year’s race and so continue and pass on that ever present excitement and experience learnt in ocean rowing and the challenges that face future rowers.” ~ Niall
(Photo Credit: World’s Toughest Row)
What advice would you give to anyone who is considering taking part in a charity challenge?
“Decide on your WHY! It’s so important, whether it’s your first 5k run or something more extreme, set a realistic but challenging fundraising target, and have a connection to the charity!” ~ Sam
“Lyme Disease UK just gave us so much love, so much help for our campaign, and encouragement, and shone a light on what we were doing, along with us shining a light on all the good work that they do. So get yourself a really good alignment and friendship with the charity, and then it’s a win-win for both sides.” ~ John
“I think it’s paramount that for any charity challenge from a ‘couch to 5K’, to an ultramarathon, to an ocean row, that you choose a charity that’s close to your heart. It’ll give you the ‘one good reason’ to overcome any physical pain or doubt, and ultimately give you the drive to push through any adversity and any obstacles to come out the other side as a champion.” ~ Niall
“I didn’t know much about Lyme Disease at all before we started. Nothing at all really. All four rowers could have suggested a charity close to them but we did see a passion with John that meant we couldn’t do anything but follow his suggestion of raising for LDUK. It’s not just the absolutely amazing feeling of completing the task you’ve set yourself, but what it then goes on to mean for countless others who otherwise aren’t able to be in a position to partake in an event, but will ultimately benefit from what you’ve just accomplished. That, right there, is the real reward.” ~ Niall
Do you have a message for members of our community?
“On your down days get your strength from helping others!” ~ Sam
“We were out at sea for 52 days and it was tough, but it was an absolute honour and a privilege to raise money for Lyme Disease UK. You guys with long-term or persistent Lyme, you’ve got it for months, sometimes years…so we had it easy! It was a pleasure to just do something for the community. One of the greatest honours that I’ve ever had.” ~ John
“Despite other causes close to our hearts, we, the crew, unanimously decided to raise for LDUK and then what followed for me was a very steep learning curve of what Lyme sufferers were going through. Tales of misdiagnosis, ignorance of medical professionals etc, were enough to know we’d made the right decision to support LDUK and Lyme disease sufferers, and truly hope that the money we have raised can help make life less stressful, less painful, and fingers crossed, a future that looks a lot brighter than it has in the past. God bless you all.” ~ Niall
Book now to hear more from John about the World’s Toughest Row!
If you’d like to hear all about the highs and lows of the race in a first-hand account of the row, you can join John Watling’s fundraising lunch in Wiltshire on Saturday 19th July 2025, at the stunning Bowood Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort. Book tickets as soon as possible to avoid disappointment!
Fundraising endurance events: raise money for Lyme Disease UK
Fundraising donations provide vital support for LDUK, helping us to continue our important work. There are a huge range of events available, at a variety of different levels, across the UK and even worldwide!
From half-marathons and marathons, to cycling and swimming races, triathlons, skydives and more…there are options for both beginners, as well as more experienced competitors. So if you know anyone wanting to put themselves to the test and support LDUK, please contact admin@lymedisease.co.uk to discuss how we can help.
Read more about how to get involved in fundraising endurance events for Lyme Disease UK.
(Photo Credit: World’s Toughest Row)
Need more inspiration?
Read more to learn about Team Seasoar’s epic adventure at sea.
“…the best thing that I’ve ever been involved in. It’s been absolutely incredible and I’ve loved it.” ~ John Watling
- Team Seasoar depart for the World’s Toughest Row!
- Team Seasoar overcome tough challenges at sea.
- Ocean rowers discuss Team Seasoar’s World’s Toughest Row!
- The World’s Toughest Row heats up for Team Seasoar!
- World’s Toughest Row – Team Seasoar spotted at sea!
- Team Seasoar approach Antigua!
- Team Seasoar complete the World’s Toughest Row 2024!