Curtis Banks proudly presents Victoria Evans and her world record attempt to solo row across the Atlantic

Curtis Banks, one of the UK’s largest independent SIPP providers, has announced it will be sponsoring Victoria Evans in her pursuit of a world-record solo row across the Atlantic Ocean, for which she will depart in the first quarter of 2021. With the campaign around the row entitled ‘Sea Change Sport’, Victoria is using the challenge as a vehicle to draw attention to gender inequality in sport, in particular the barriers that prevent access to sport for women and girls.

Victoria, a 33-year-old sports lawyer from Yorkshire, will attempt to row across the Atlantic Ocean faster than the current world record of 49 days, 7 hours and 15 minutes. Scheduled to depart from Gran Canaria next February, she will finish the challenge in Barbados, becoming only the 13^th women to row the Trade Winds I Route from east to west.

Through the partnership, Curtis Banks will become a silver level sponsor and provide financial support towards Victoria’s transatlantic endeavour. In addition to seeking corporate sponsorship for the challenge, Victoria hopes to raise a minimum of £50,000 for the charity Women in Sport, whose mission is to ensure that every woman and girl in the UK has the opportunity to experience the transformational rewards of sport. This is a cause close to Victoria’s heart after her own life has been transformed through sport.

Will Self, CEO of Curtis Banks, commented: “Women in Sport was founded in 1984, with the goal of giving every woman and girl in the UK the opportunity to experience the transformational rewards of sport.  Having daughters myself, and being an active family, I have seen first hand the benefits of sport and the team work and support that it brings. 

“At Curtis Banks over 60% of our team across the three locations are female but I think that this challenge will resonate across the whole business. We are really excited to be partnering with Victoria, and her initiative will be a way of motivating and exciting our staff to be more active and show them what is possible. It also goes hand in hand with our CSR activities in sustaining and improving our community, both directly and indirectly, through supporting others.”

Victoria added: “This is the first action in my commitment to promote change in women’s sport and I want to leave a legacy that goes far beyond the row. I am very grateful for the support that Curtis Banks is providing and I look forward to working with them over the next 12 months and beyond”.

“More people have climbed Everest or been to space than have rowed the Atlantic. Fewer than 15 women have done it solo, so it’s quite the challenge, but I am working hard and by the time I set out I will be fully prepared.”

For more information on the challenge, visit www.seachangesport.com or follow on social media @seachangesport.

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