TWO friends are approaching the finish line in their record-breaking Atlantic row, which hopes to raise money for two Surrey-based charities.

Seamus Crawford and Paddy Montgomery have fewer than 750 nautical miles left in the Talisker Whiskey 3,000-mile Atlantic Challenge.

They have already conquered a 2,933-mile bike race across Europe and the Marathon des Sables through the Sahara, and hope to become the first people to complete all three challenges.

Paddy, whose father Bruce is a retired consultant urological surgeon at Frimley Park Hospital, aims to raise £300,000 for volunteer-led prostate cancer charity The Prostate Project.

Seamus is rowing for Shooting Star Chase, a children’s hospice charity caring for babies, children and young people with life-limiting illnesses.

The pair’s latest blog tells of the mental and physical strain of rowing over 1,500 nautical miles and the “awesome and terrifying” experience of being followed by a 12ft shark.

But they are determined to keep going and have managed to shave five days off their expected arrival date in Antigua.

Donations and messages of encouragement are vital to motivate the pair. To get in touch or donate, go to www.saddlesandsea.com