Sandbach's Jordan Gatley to be honoured in gruelling race rowing 3,000 miles across Atlantic
By Deborah Bowyer 9th Jul 2024
A Sandbach soldier who sadly died fighting against Russian forces in the war in Ukraine is to be honoured along with others as part of a 3,000 mile race across the Atlantic.
Deborah Cope, who grew up in Crewe, is one of the four taking part in Ocean Empower Atlantic Row 2024 and took time out to take the boat to the car park at Merepark Medical Centre.
The solider, Jordan Gatley, 24, went to Sandbach School with Deborah's son and a photograph of Jordan will be placed on the boat as part of a wrap. The team are doing the race for mental health and supporting veterans.
In December, Deborah and the three other members of the team will set off from La Gomera in Tenerife for the 3,000 miles across the sea to Antigua in the Caribbean.
Soldier, Jordan Gatley, 24, died fighting alongside the Ukrainian forces against Russian invaders as we revealed here
Deborah said: "As a team we're rowing for mental health and to support veterans. We have an empowered faces campaign on our boat and Jordan will be one of those.
"I'm rowing in memory of Jordan and Judy my friend who passed away from MND."
Practice manager at Merepark Medical Centre Denise Smith, who is coordinating the marketing campaign for Ocean Enpower Atlantic Row said: "We're delighted to be involved with this campaign, highlighting the importance of supporting veterans and looking after our well-being.
"We have a passion for well-being and mental health and know how important these both are to our work."
Deborah, 46, who grew up in Valley Road, Crewe and went to school in the town, is busy practising for the gruelling race which will see her and the other three members of the crew take it in turns to row their way across the Atlantic.
"We're putting photographs inside of empowering people and Jordan Gatley will be one," said Deborah.
"He went to Sandbach School with my son and was such a wonderful person. We've also got all sorts of ideas for afterwards, including taking our story into schools."
The race will take its toll on those taking part, both physically and mentally and the rowers must battle everything from rough seas to sleep deprivation as they spend weeks on end at sea.
The group has set up a GoFund me page here and have charted just how tough it will be.
"The challenge is gruelling, both physically and mentally and the rowers must battle everything from rough seas to sleep deprivation as they spend weeks on end at sea," they say.
"Just to get to the start line will cost the team more than £100,000. To help us reach this target and join us on this incredible journey, we are asking sponsors to donate generously to our effort.
"Their sponsorship will also help us to raise awareness and dedicate more time to raising funds for the three incredible charities we are supporting."
Deborah says she was inspired to take part in the challenge following the death of a friend who she nursed through Covid.
"We watched a video on the race and I was just so inspired by what we saw. I knew I had to take part," said Deborah who runs a beauty business and is in the process of moving to the Peak District.
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