British Man's Epic 8800KM Rowing Challenge from Australia to Mombasa to Fund Dementia Support

Bill Taylor, a former firefighter from Selsey, West Sussex, is preparing to row 5,500 miles across the Indian Ocean, aiming to raise £500,000 for early-onset dementia research and mental health support for veterans.

Scheduled to begin in early June, Taylor and his four-person crew will depart from Exmouth, Western Australia, bound for Mombasa, Kenya, with an estimated journey time of 100 days. Taylor's expedition is motivated by the memory of his friend, who died in 2022 from Parkinson’s disease dementia.

Inspired by his friend's experience, Taylor seeks to contribute to dementia research, stating, "I could do something like this to try and raise awareness and raise money for people that are doing real good stuff."

In the UK, an estimated 982,000 people live with dementia, with over a third remaining undiagnosed, according to the Alzheimer’s Society. Taylor’s friend was diagnosed at age 34, giving them time to discuss the disease’s impact.

"It struck me that this disease is so prolific. It's horrific. It robs people of the person they are," Taylor reflects.

In addition to dementia research, the fundraising will support a mental health charity for veterans and members of the armed forces. Taylor, who has previously rowed across the Indian Ocean, completed three transatlantic crossings, and rowed from California to Hawaii, leads a crew composed of two men and two women. The crew will row in pairs in two-hour shifts, alternating between rowing and rest, using a 29-foot by 5-foot carbon fiber boat.

Taylor emphasizes the importance of teamwork and unity, deliberately creating a crew with equal gender representation. As the crew prepares for the physical and mental challenges ahead, Taylor hopes to honour his friend's memory and make a significant contribution to dementia research and mental health support.