After the excesses of Christmas Day, many of us are probably now formulating New Year’s resolutions that we know we have little chance or inclination of keeping.

However, former Fishguard School pupil Ed Curtis, has no choice about upping his fitness and stamina in 2013.

This time next year Ed will be in a tiny boat heading out into the middle of the Atlantic. Together with friend Nick Rees, Ed is taking part in the 2013 Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge and hoping to raise £250,000 for Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

Nick and Ed were motivated to undertake the challenge following the diagnosis of Nicks’ wife and Ed’s lifelong friend, Ellen, with breast cancer at the age of just 33.

Christmas and New Year 2013 will be in stark contrast to this one, as the two family men battle unpredictable and extreme weather and 40 foot waves. They will row 24 hours a day in two hour shifts covering 2,600 nautical miles from La Gomera in the Canary Islands to English Harbour in Antigua.

Between now and then Nick & Ed will each have to spend 150 hours in the gym; accumulate more than 60 hours on their Atlantic rowing boat; put on more than seven kilos in weight; plan more than 20 charity fundraising events and manage more than 85 blisters on hands and bums.

“We’re really excited about the next 12 months,” said Ed.“Having spent three days on the boat in the Menai Strait we’re confident in our ability and the boat.

“We now need to hone our preparation and juggle our two biggest projects ; raising as much as possible for Breakthrough Breast Cancer, and attracting sponsors (both big and small) to help us really deliver a ‘breakthrough’ in the fight against breast cancer which affects one in eight women at some stage of their lives.”

To find out more about Ed and Nick’s challenge visit www.breakthroughatlantic.com. To donate £10 text ‘ROWA88 £10’ to 70070.