A grieving Yorkshire family who tragically lost their husband and father to suicide have been overwhelmed by the sponsorship support they have received as they prepare to row the Atlantic.

Robert Ash, from Harrogate, died by suicide in September 2023 leaving his wife Charlotte and their three grown-up children Camilla, James and Henry.

The Ash family are embarking on this epic challenge despite having no rowing experience at all. And they are the world’s first complete family unit to take on this challenge together and will set a Guinness World Record if they complete it.

The family are raising funds for the charity Suicide&Co which has provided vital counselling for them following Robert’s death. They have already received £315,000 in sponsorship surpassing their initial target of £300,000 and have since raised their target to £500,000.

The family will be setting off on their 3,000-mile unsupported row from La Gomera in the Canary Islands to Antigua in December 2027. They expect the row to take about 45 days depending on the weather.

Charlotte commented: “The support we have received has been overwhelming and we are eternally grateful. The money raised goes to such an important cause and it has validated our decision to undertake the epic challenge of rowing the Atlantic.

“But we don’t want to stop at £300,000. Our ultimate aim is to raise £500,000, the majority of which will go to Suicide&Co and the rest covering some of the costs of the expedition.”

She explained: “All our Gold and Bronze sponsorship packages have gone, but we still have three £15,000 Silver Sponsorship packages available for potential supporters. This package includes company branding on the hull of our boat, our website and on our team kit, together with promotion on all our social media channels with links to the company website, invitations to fund-raising events and content creation.”

The lead sponsor for the Ash Family Row is EFG Private Bank, a leading Swiss bank which provides comprehensive investment and credit solutions for private and institutional clients.

A spokesperson for EFG explained: “We were moved deeply by the Ash Family’s positive outlook and resilience. We are proud to be the lead sponsor for the Ash Family Row as they take on the world’s toughest row together. Prioritising mental health and wellbeing is essential. Through the support for the Ash Family and our partnership with Suicide&Co, we want to foster a nurturing environment, inspire communication within families and encourage individuals to seek help when needed.”

Meanwhile the four Gold Sponsors are UK property consultancy Carter Jonas, the David Riddell Memorial CIO, the cyber security specialist Brigantia and elite sports performance group, Pure Sports Medicine.

A spokesperson for Carter Jonas explained: “We are proud to support the Ash Family Row in aid of Suicide&Co, a cause that aligns closely with our commitment to wellbeing and supporting the communities we serve. As a firm, we believe in using our platform to make a meaningful difference, and we are honoured to support such an important initiative.”

Leading UK law firm Pinsent Masons have also supported the Ash family and Suicide&Co, with training co-ordinator Asim Ashraf commenting: “Mental Health is something that touches all of us - in quiet moments, in tough seasons, or through the people we care deeply about. As a firm, we’ve set ourselves the goal of raising £6,500 to support their incredible work with people navigating grief after losing someone to suicide. Their support genuinely changes lives - and often arrives when someone needs it the most.”

Other generous corporate sponsors include: The Texel Group; DTRE; Steppes Travel; AMT; Simpsons of York; TL Dallas; CMS; You’re Looking Well; the Future of Finance; and Thirdfort Ltd.

James Ash thanked all these sponsors saying: “We are deeply indebted to all our generous sponsors, who together have enabled us to take on the challenge of rowing the Atlantic in memory of our much-loved father and to raise money for Suicide&Co, who do such a brilliant job of raising awareness of mental health and of supporting bereaved families.”

Henry Ash added: “Suicide&Co have been an utter lifeline for us, they have provided us with counselling after Dad died and given us a community in which we can grieve together," Henry said. "The sad reality is their services are more in demand than ever, but they have been a huge help to us in the aftermath of Dad's death.”

Amelia Wrighton, CEO and Co-founder of Suicide&Co explained: “It has been a privilege to support the Ash Family on this project over the past few months. Their courage in sharing their story and taking on this huge physical and mental challenge for Suicide&Co is immense, and we couldn't be more grateful for their support.”

If you would like to support the Ash family in their epic challenge, please visit www.ashfamilyrow.com