Recently we reported on a challenge by a trio of intrepid women, including 2 alumni of Hampton girls' school LEH, to row across the Atlantic this winter to raise £100,000 for three cancer charities.

Now we bring you the incredible story behind their fundraiser, with the below transcript of the inspirational and candid words which Kat Cordiner from the group spoke at last week's SporTedd event at the Wharf in Teddington.

The room fell silent as Kat, 40, who works for the Wholesale COO team at HSBC, stood at the front of a spellbound audience, smiling broadly and delivering such meaningful and touching words in her typical upbeat, chirpy manner.

Many of those who attended were so overwhelmed with her moving speech that they pledged their personal support to the group's 'WeAreExtraordinary' challenge to row 3000 miles across the Atlantic from early December. Here Kat's speech in full:

"Don't go getting a big mortgage and don't adopt any kids".

Those were the words uttered to me by an oncologist in June last year. Needless to say he's no longer my oncologist.

Now, it wasn't my first rodeo with the disease, having been diagnosed in March 2019.

But despite being in remission since November of the same year and with a 5% chance of recurrence, it was back, and this time I wasn't considered curable.

After dwelling on all the milestones I figured I wouldn't hit – marriage, children, jeez, I even questioned why I was paying into my pension, I started throwing stuff away, selling stuff, convinced I was doing my parents a favour so they wouldn't have to go through all my stuff when I died.

I had spiralled into a place I didn't like. After giving myself a massive talking to, I decided this was just another thing I needed to deal with and I was determined to prove to myself and everyone else that I was still the same gutsy, physically strong person. Cancer, what cancer?

Now, sport has always been a huge part of my life, either through running, rugby 7s or just general gym sessions and we all know the benefits of regular exercise on both physical and mental health, so, myself and two friends, Abby & Charlotte applied to take part in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, attempting to row over 3,000 nautical miles across the Atlantic in December of this year.

I needed a goal, something I was willing to work towards, and something that would put the 'can' in cancer.

Whilst the challenge and in general the ocean rowing sport, has gained momentum, there are still less people who have rowed an ocean than have climbed Everest and less than 20% of rowers are women.

I managed to train throughout chemo, determined not to be the weakest link in the team, which was going well until they found a rare cardiac tumour in one of my scans. But by now, the row became my talking point, yeah I have cancer but I'm going to row an ocean – I mean I couldn't even row!

So, here we are, 5 months out, 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.

So, we need your help. We're holding a black tie fundraising ball on 18th September at the Grosvenor on Park Lane, which we'd love you to attend, but if you can't, and feel you could contribute in any way – either through donating auction items or services, do come and talk to us this evening.

For more about the group's incredible challenge and how you can help, visit their website

SporTedd wishes the 'oarsome' trio the best of luck and Nub News will be following their progress