A CALSTOCK resident is set to face the challenge of a lifetime when she rows solo across the Atlantic Ocean for charity.

Rosie Greaves, 23, a student from UCP Marjon, will compete in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge in December 2013, to raise money for local children's charity CHICKS, but first needs to raise £75,000 to compete.

Rosie will set off from La Gomera, Tenerife and row across nearly 3,000 miles of open water before she reaches land again in Port St Charles, Barbados.

The completely unsupported row will take between two to four months and aims to raise £150,000, which will be split between the project costs and the charity.

Although already a keen rower, Rosie has never attempted an adventure of this scale before. She will face blisters, sleep deprivation and salt rashes among other things, as she battles the waves for weeks on end to complete her goal.

Yet despite this, Rosie is looking forward to the challenge.

She said: 'I'm really excited already. I've been rowing for five years, but I have never done anything quite like this! One of my friends has done it twice before and tried convincing me to do it, so I thought why not? I know it's going to be tough, but once you're out on the ocean you just keep going. If she can do it, so can I.'

The challenge can be completed as part of a team, but Rosie is choosing to go it alone.

'Some people do it in teams, but I'm worried if I did that we would just end up arguing with each other!

'I enjoy being out in the water on my own and when it comes to the end I really want that sense of achievement.'

Rosie was delighted that she could help out a local charity by completing the challenge.

'I know people who work at CHICKS and the amazing work that they do. I have always wanted to help out and volunteer, but have never managed to find the time, so when this opportunity came about, I wanted to support a local charity and that's what I'm doing.'

Brentor-based charity CHICKS — which offers respite breaks to children from disadvantaged backgrounds across the UK — would be able to provide nearly 100 children with a much needed break using the £72,000 Rosie aims to raise.

CHICKS fundraiser Mick Ryan said they were amazed by Rosie's generosity: 'The challenge Rosie is doing is absolutely amazing and we cannot thank her enough.

'This is a big year for CHICKS as we are celebrating our 20th anniversary and we aim to provide our 10,000th child with a vital break away in September.

'Thanks to donations from Rosie and other supporters, we will hopefully make this happen.'

The fundraising is already under way, with more than £80 raised so far and Rosie has no intention of stopping there.

She is already planning to row the circumference of Cornwall to raise awareness for her Atlantic Challenge.

She aims to complete the row of around 300 miles in June, ending at her local rowing club, Calstock.

Rosie's team mates at Calstock Rowing Club and Cotehele Quay Gig Club will all be supporting her with training right up until the day she sets off on her aquatic adventure.

Nick Bradley, chairman of Calstock Rowing Club, said the club was 110 percent behind Rosie: 'We're doing anything we can to help her train. We want to get her out on her own boat as much as possible and enter her into as many of the longer events as we can. It'll be really special when she gets there and I'm sure that she will.'

Local food giants Ginsters, business consultancy company Voomeroon and specialist meal suppliers Expedition Foods have already given their support to Rosie, but she is still actively seeking more sponsors for her expedition.

Rosie, a second year student in Early Years Education, graduates in June 2013, leaving her six months to finish off the final preparations for what will be an amazing adventure.

Anyone who would like to support Rosie with her efforts, can donate by visiting http://www.virginmoneygiving.com/rosiesrow">www.virginmoneygiving.com/rosiesrow