A Dinas man who is planning to row the Atlantic next year will be bringing his boat to Newport tomorrow (Saturday).

Ed Curtis, along with friend Nick Rees, is planning the oar-some adventure to raise money for Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

The pair will be testing the limits of their strength and endurance during the 2013 Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge. 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.

During the crossing they will row unsupported and self-sufficiently, battling unpredictable and extreme weather, with waves sometimes over 40 feet high.

The journey takes on average 50 days to complete. The pair will burn 8,000 calories a day, losing 20% of their bodyweight.

Ed and Nick hope to raise £250,000 for Breakthrough Breast Cancer. They were inspired to take on the lungbusting challenge after Nick’s wife and Ed’s lifelong friend, Ellen, was diagnosed with the condition at the age of 33. Ellen had to go through treatment while taking care of her two children, who were just one and three years old at the time.

“Following Ellen’s breast cancer treatment we had to do something to fight this disease which affects so many,” said 37-year-old Ed, who now lives in north Wales.

“I love a challenge and there are few bigger challenges than this. We have to be a bit mad to take this on, but we should get through it because we are both very determined and, more important, close friends.”

The pair have has already bought the winning boat from last year’s race and renamed her Breakthrough Atlantic. They will be bringing her to Newport Boat Club, as part of the Dinas Head rowing race, at around 12.30pm on Saturday, July 28th.

“We want to show her off and hopefully raise some money,” said Ed.

To find out more about Ed and Nick’s challenge visit www. b r eakthroughat - lantic.com. To donate £10 text ‘ROWA88 £10’ to 70070