Three weeks have passed since the 73-year-old started rowing across the Atlantic.
Frank decided to try the impossible again and break his own record three years after completing the “Toughest Row” challenge at the age of 70 and raising over £1 million for charity. The football club chairman set off on December 13 and has been beaten by the waves for the duration of Christmas and New Year’s, spending time away from home.
While Frank was somewhere in the middle of the ocean, far away from friends and family, someone sent him a note. “From the Atlantic to all of you, happy New Year!” it read.
If you’ve had a rainy or stormy week, please remember the 73-year-old owner of Oldham Athletic who is currently
Around 1100 miles into his mammoth 3000-mile journey, Frank has raised almost £250,000 for Alzheimer’s Research UK, from more than 1700 individual donations, as well as fundraisers held by supporters and a hefty matched donation from Iceland Foods. Joining other
Frank has led a charmed existence later in life, first spending five weeks starving and grafting on Bear Grylls’ The Island in 2017, before purchasing the then-failing Oldham Athletic a couple of years later. After turning the club’s fortunes around, the septuagenarian set his sights on yet another seemingly impossible challenge – becoming the oldest person to row across the vast Atlantic Ocean.
“I’m missing spending time with my family today, especially enjoying a posh meal with my granddaughter. Thank you all for supporting my Atlantic challenge and fundraising for Alzheimer’s Research UK in 2023.”
Many of the donations have come from Oldham Athletic supporters, who have seen their club recently drop out of the football league. One of the club’s younger supporters, seven-year-old Evelyn Caulfield, has even managed to raise £650 from just one raffle after the club offered to help by donating a signed football to the prize list.
Safe to say I was an emotional wreck last night when we counted up how much she raised.”
Season ticket holder Evelyn decided to help raise money for Frank’s cause and got in touch with the club. The inspired Oldham seven-year-old then got to meet Frank’s son and record a supportive video message that would be sent to the club chairman to keep his spirits up while fighting the choppy seas of the Atlantic.
Evelyn’s mother Emma Caulfield said: “Honestly, this was completely off her own back and all her idea. What a kind and thoughtful little girl.
Lucy Squance, Director of Supporter Led Fundraising at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “Frank is making fantastic progress on his 3,000-mile row across the Atlantic, and everyone at Alzheimer’s Research UK is cheering him on. He’s currently over a third of the way into the race, but it’s not been easy, and he’s had to overcome some challenges. We’re in awe of his determination and strength to keep going.
“Even while out at sea, Frank has been championing Alzheimer’s Research UK and raising much-needed awareness for our cause, by appearing in the news. His beloved football club, Oldham Athletic, has also been putting the spotlight on dementia research, with the players wearing shirts bearing the Alzheimer’s Research UK’s logo during their recent victory against Hartlepool Utd.
This support for our cause has never been more important. As we revealed in December, dementia is the UK’s biggest killer, with one in ten people dying from the condition. We cannot let this tragedy continue. At Alzheimer’s Research UK, we are committed to accelerating progress towards a cure for dementia, but we cannot do it alone.
“Thank you, Frank, for standing with us for a cure, and we’re so grateful to everyone who has supported him, and to the staff and players at Oldham Athletic for raising awareness of our cause.”
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