THREE inspiring women, including two alumni of the Hampton girls' school Lady Eleanor Holles (LEH), have raised more than £50,000 for cancer charities while completing one of the world's toughest rows across the Atlantic ocean.

Kat Cordiner, Charlotte Irving and Abby Johnston, known as 'Team ExtraOARdinary,' are competing against 35 others in the gruelling Atlantic Talisker Whisky Challenge, a rowing race of more than 3,000 miles from the Canary Islands to Antigua and Barbuda.

The girls are aiming to set a new world record for completion of the course by a female trio and also hope to raise £100,000 for the charities Cancer Research UK, Macmillan Cancer Support and The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.

These three causes are very close to their hearts as team member Kat, 41, was diagnosed with incurable cancer two years ago.

Determined to "put the 'can' in cancer" Kat joined up with former LEH girls Charlotte and Abby to take on the challenge and trained throughout her chemotherapy, before setting off on the Atlantic voyage last month (December 12).

The trio have now been at sea for an incredible 39 days, rowing in shift patterns of two hours on, one hour off during the day and washing clothes, eating and sleeping in their breaks.

At night they row for two hours solo in pitch black darkness - unless the moon is shining brightly - and get four hours of sleep in-between, all while on-board their 23-foot boat, Dolly Parton.

The girls have captured their extraordinary voyage in photos and videos posted to Instagram, and Kat recently wrote a candid blog-post about the experience for her website.

Highlights of the journey so far include a visit from a pod of 50 minke whales, singing power ballads while rowing in the dark, and appearing on BBC Breakfast on Christmas Day.

Lowlights include losing a toilet bucket to the ocean, sea sickness - suffered by Kat and Charlotte - and calluses, blisters and bum spots developed from the intense rowing.

The girls have so far raised £52,037, taking them more than halfway to their fundraising goal.

Speaking at an event in Teddington last year, Kat explained what raising the money means to her.

She said: "I'm in remission again and Abby, Charlotte and myself are excited to be taking part in this epic challenge, aiming to raise over £100k for each of our three charities that have been instrumental for me and many others facing this disease; Cancer Research, Macmillan and The Royal Marsden.

"Like many people, they have been adversely impacted by COVID, with Cancer research reducing the amount they planned to spend on research by £121m this year.

"We know the statistics say that 1 in 2 people will experience cancer in their lifetime, I'm hoping that given it's the second time I've got it, I've given someone a free pass, but the fact is, nearly all of us have been affected by cancer or know someone that has had it.

"I'm not the first person to get cancer, and sadly I won't be the last, but I would like to do what I can to ensure that the number of people who survive it at the very least increases."

With just days to go, Team ExtraOARdinary are hugely appreciative of any donations made to their fundraiser, which you can find here: www.gofundme.com/f/kathryn039s-campaign-for-cancer-research-uk

Follow their journey on Instagram or read Kat's blog here: kcandthebigc.com/the-owl-and-the-pussy-cat-went-to-sea/

You can also see the girls' progress LIVE here: www.taliskerwhiskyatlanticchallenge.com/