Chubb sponsors 2023 World's Toughest Row team
About the journey
In December 2023, Team Marduk will set off rowing from the small fishing port of San Sebastián in La Gomera, Canary Islands, and they won’t stop until they reach Nelson’s Dockyard, English Harbour, Antigua & Barbuda, a distance of 3,000 miles (4,800 kilometres)
Chubb is sponsoring the four-man team (Alex Jackson of Chubb Global Markets in London and insurance professionals Adam Carrier and George Dagnall along with Jack Chapman) as they prepare for this non-stop, unassisted row across the Atlantic Ocean along with up to approximately 30 other teams competing from all over the world.
By the time Team Marduk rows its first stroke of the race it will have spent two years preparing physically and mentally for the rigors of the challenge, and Chubb will be there to support them every step of the way.
Meet the team
Alex Jackson
Head of Managament Liability, Chubb Global Markets
As a management liability underwriter within Chubb Global Markets, Alex stresses that the team hopes to raise awareness that bowel cancer is affecting younger generations; the funds raised by the team will focus on educating younger people and developing tools for early diagnosis. The disease has also touched Alex personally; his uncle passed away from bowel cancer when he was just seven years old. Alex points out that Team Marduk’s support of Head Up and Bowel Cancer UK, one charity focused on the mind and one on the body, is entirely “fitting when considering the mental resilience and physical endurance we will need to complete the row.”
Adam Carrier
Head Up Trustee and consultant, Another Day
Adam, who served in the British Army for 11 years, believes that Head Up’s mission to provide space for service members and veterans to address mental health concerns has resonance for cancer patients as well. “I think there is also a lot we can be doing to help cancer patients mentally prepare for the challenges they will face, too,” he explains. Adam hopes his participation in the Challenge will demonstrate that mental resilience “isn’t just ‘something you have’”, but rather is developed through adversity, which we all need to face to build strength.
George Dagnall
Head Up Trustee and consulatant, Another Day
For George, it is important to be a role model for people suffering from mental health issues. George was medically discharged from the British Army for a complex hip injury after almost a decade of service, and chronic pain has tested his mental health daily. It is important to George to serve as a voice and an example for how “mental resilience can alter the way our bodies behave.” He says: “I want to demonstrate to people that, through the correct attitude, our mind can be the greatest tool for unlocking life’s difficulties.” George is putting his ethos into action as one of the founding members of Head Up and by undertaking the challenges of the training needed to prepare for his role in getting Team Marduk across the Atlantic successfully.
Jack Chapman
Student, Cardiff University
In project management currently, former military. Involved in hardships on operational deployments over a 11 year military career. Unfortunately seen friends and colleagues who have battled mental health issues, especially when returning from deployments and unfortunately some that have resulted in suicide. Very interested in health and fitness and passionate about helping others and so will be rowing the Atlantic to raise money and awareness for both mental and physical health - supporting Headup and Bowel Cancer UK.
CHARITIES
Bowel Cancer UK is the country’s leading bowel-cancer charity. Its vision is a future where nobody dies of the disease. Team Marduk is committed to helping Bowel Cancer UK raise funds for education, research and early diagnosis.
Head Up is a new UK charity set up by four veterans, intending to promote mental health awareness for UK Armed Forces, and help forces personnel build a positive mindset and improve their mental resilience.
