Solihull farmer takes on Atlantic row in son's memory

Rod Adlington, from Balsall Common in Solihull, will be part of a four-man crew taking on the unaided 3,000 mile (4,828km) journey starting from Lanzarote

A farmer is preparing to row across the Atlantic ocean in memory of his son who died from meningitis.

Rod Adlington, from Balsall Common in Solihull, will be part of a four-man crew taking on the unaided 3,000 mile (4,828km) journey starting from Lanzarote.

His son Barney died from the illness 18 years ago, aged three.

He said he wants to raise awareness of the illness, and hopes to raise £250,000 for charity.

Speaking about Barney's illness, Mr Adlington said: "It happened so quickly.

Barney died at the age of three

"From being an amazing, bouncy full of energy three-year-old, within 12 hours he was dead.

"It is a terrible disease, comes from nowhere, it is brutal."

The money raised will be split between Midlands-founded Get Ahead Charitable Trust and Meningitis Now.

Anna Williams will be part of the crew taking on the challenge

Tom Bromwich, the chairman of Get Ahead, said: "It is amazing what Rod is doing."

Anna Williams, who will be joining Mr Adlington in the crew, said: "It is hard to prepare for something like this.

"If people can get through awful things like what Rod's family has had to go through... I'm sure we can survive 40 days on this boat.

Guy Minshull said it will be "us against nature"

"It is very much us against nature," added fellow crew member Guy Minshull

"Rod has put so much time and effort into the Meningitis Now charity and I just feel actually very honoured to be part of it and we are going to try and raise as much as we can."

The crew, called The Bright Sides, will set off in early January.