A borough ex-serviceman who is currently rowing across the Atlantic Ocean has described celebrating Christmas at sea.
Louie Greenhalgh, from Westhoughton, and Chris Thrall, from Plymouth, are two veterans embarking on the row to raise money for good causes.
The “world’s toughest row” has been completed by fewer people than have summited Mount Everest.
The pair set off from Gran Canaria on December 8, starting the 3,000-mile journey which requires 14 hours of rowing every day.
Louie, 52, has served on special operations with the Irish Guards.
He said: “Christmas was just another day, but we took our hands off the pedal, relaxed and made the most of it.
“We had rations that vaguely resembled Christmas dinner – beans, mash, Christmas pudding.
“A friend of mine asked me to look up to the stars and he would do it at the same time.
“But it was nothing like being back home with your family.”
The two veterans are raising money for Alabaré, which helps homeless veterans, and Scotty’s Little Soldiers, which supports bereaved service children.
The fundraiser has raised £73,225 at the time of writing, and has almost reached its goal of £80,000.
Louie Greenhalgh is an ex-Irish Guardsman from Westhoughton (Image: Ocean’s ELITE) Louie said: “We’re motivated in the fact that we have both been through so much.
“We both have friends who fell by the wayside and we know we are fortunate.
“So many people are behind us, everyone we’ve met has been fantastic and the support is what carries you.
“It’s easy when people are behind you.
“A big thank you to everyone who is supporting us.”
The two men make up the entire crew of “Oceans ELITE” but are being supported from shore by Mission Atlantic, an organisation that helps recovering veterans through the experience of open-ocean rowing.
Louie says that being ex-servicemen they have found it easy to adapt to the strict schedule required for the journey.
He said: “I think initially [the biggest challenge] was the pain for me.
“You lose a lot of skin, blisters and mild sunstroke at the beginning.
“Getting used to being on a moving object, every time you move you hurt something.
“You have to plan every move, but we are used to planning. Every off time a wave comes and knocks you off your feet, but we’re careful.”
Louie suffered a severe brain injury in 2021, but still went on a skiing expedition to the Arctic Polar Circle.
He said: “Three years ago it was nearly game over for me, I had a brain haemorrhage and was told I would never walk again.
“But I went on an expedition across the Arctic and that’s how I met Chris.”
Chris Thrall is an ex-Royal Marine and English Veteran of the Year for Inspiration (Image: Ocean’s ELITE) Chris, who is leading the voyage, is a former Royal Marines Commando and English Veteran of the Year for Inspiration.
He said: “It’s a gorgeous day – a few white clouds in the sky, but nothing like we have back home!
“Overall it’s been pretty exceptional, it’s a lot of rowing and it’s easy to think at this point that Barbados is a long, long way off.
“We’re coming up to about half-way now, so we’ve done over a thousand miles and I think 1,400 miles is the half-way point.
“Time will go quicker than we think it will.”
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The crew faced a tough challenge when the power failed on their small rowboat, called Isabel, and they had to think fast to fix it.
One of the solar panels had gone out.
Chris said: “We had to go through the electronics to find that the circuit board had fried.
“Luckily we had a spare diode in our electrical kit and it’s been fine ever since.”
Ultimately, the pair are looking forward to completing their journey in Barbados and seeing land for the first time in months.
Chris said: “All I think about is seeing my son and my girlfriend when we get to Barbados, that’s my single point of focus.
“I don’t have to think about anything else, just focus on that.”
Louie said: “Hopefully my auntie and uncle will be coming, I’ll be grateful to be on land again.
“To be able to go to a toilet that isn’t moving and go to the bar and stick a couple of rums down me neck!”
You can support their fundraiser by visiting https://www.gofundme.com/f/oceanseliterow
Have a story? Get in touch at eoin.mccaul@newsquest.co.uk