Meet the Crew 

Ellen

Ellen, 25, is a physiotherapist working in inpatient orthopaedics with a passion for endurance and adventure. Originally from East Lothian, she grew up surrounded by Scotland’s coastlines, beaches, and wildlife — sparking her love for the outdoors. As a keen sailor, she is well-used to being on the water but usually with the comforts of a hot shower not far away… Since moving to Dundee, she has also discovered a growing love for endurance sport. With a strong “give it a go” mindset, she has taken on various running and triathlon events, each one slightly longer than the last.

Now Ellen is taking her love of adventure to new extremes as part of this team, and feels incredibly lucky to be doing so alongside two amazing friends. “I’ve found that the more I do, the more I want to push myself,” she says. “This is a new way to experience the ocean on a much larger scale and push my own physical and mental limits.” Taking part in the World’s Toughest Row is a chance for her to prove that ordinary people can take on challenges and achieve incredible things if they put their mind to it.

  • Her mantra: “Just one stroke at a time.”

  • Her message: “I hope to inspire others to just say yes to things, instead of looking for a but…”

  • Her first wish in Antigua: An ice-cold ginger beer and a moment to take it all in.

Jenna

Jenna, 29, is a surgical trainee whose calm focus and optimism keep morale high in every situation. Having lived in 7 countries across two continents, she thrives in dynamic environments. Growing up on an island has meant the ocean has always been an integral part of her life. If you can’t get hold of her - she’s probably in the sea! Jenna was gifted a second-hand bike from a dear friend as a means of commuting to university placements. She soon discovered an even greater gift - using her body to self-power adventures as a way of exploring the world in a more sustainable way. Combining her love for bike-packing and quality time with friends, she’s spent the last 10 years of uni holidays and annual leave cycling over 30,000 kilometres across Europe and Western Africa. 

Having inherited her parents’ love of nature (and her dad’s passion for crossing oceans), this challenge feels like the perfect way to bring those influences together. Having witnessed first-hand the incredible work of The Archie Foundation whilst working in Paediatric Surgery, she’s driven to support a cause that makes a truly life-changing difference in people’s lives.

  • Her approach: “Shared experiences enhance joy.”

  • Her motivation: “I can’t complete my circumnavigation whilst lacking the ability to cycle on water,” she laughs. “So this is my next adventure.” 

  • Her dream on arrival: Fresh food, a long run, and lots of hugs from loved ones before planning the next expedition!

Lauren

Lauren, 26, is a physiotherapist with an enduring sense of curiosity and adventure. Growing up abroad and travelling from a young age sparked her love to explore — a thread that’s constant in her life.

Since returning to Scotland, she spends every spare moment outdoors — hiking, running, climbing, skiing, paddleboarding, or wild swimming. But caught in routine, ticking boxes and surrounded by talk of adventures postponed, she realised she didn’t want to wait for the “right time”. Saying yes to challenges became her new approach.

That mindset shift led her more into the world of endurance sports — triathlons, long treks, and multi-day ultramarathons — proving that genuine commitment can stretch what we think is possible.

Now, rowing the Atlantic with two incredible friends feels like the next step on that journey. Drawn to long, expedition-style challenges, Lauren sees this not just as a test of endurance, but as a journey of exploration, connection, and growth — a chance to discover what is possible - and then go beyond them.

  • Her approach: “Life is an adventure.”

  • Her motivation: “I’ve found myself surrounded by communities where people push, encourage, and inspire each other to go further, dream bigger, and achieve things they once thought were impossible.”

  • Her plans on arrival: Fresh food, greenery, and sleep — all in prep for the next wild adventure.