As “The OARburn Rower”, Kyle will be at sea, by himself and completely unsupported for the entirety of his 3000-mile Atlantic Ocean crossing. In addition to being a HUGE personal challenge, the primary aim of the crossing is to raise much needed awareness of skin cancer and the risks associated with prolonged unprotected exposure to the sun. ​

During his time at sea, Kyle will be exposed to the full force of the sun, and everything else Mother Nature has to offer! With daily temperatures easily exceeding 30 degrees, Kyle is unusually – and unfortunately – extremely susceptible to sunburn and therefore skin cancer. 

Granddad Michael - who sadly passed away in April 2020 after a battle with Stage IV Metastasis Melanoma - spent his live in the haulage and construction industry, and was passionate about spending time outdoors and travelling. For this reason Kyle has chosen to raise much needed funds for educational programmes and skin cancer prevention outreach projects, focus on those professions requiring individuals to work outdoors for prolonged periods, such as those in the construction, agricultural, sporting and leisure sectors.  

Kyle also hopes to use the local, national and global media coverage attracted by the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge to reignite the important conversation of removing VAT from sunscreens in the UK.