The Woodvale Indian Ocean Race will be as advertised "The Toughest Rowing Race in The World". It will be run from Geraldton in Western Australia across to the beautiful Island of Mauritius. Between these two points lay 3,100 Miles of untamed ocean that has until this point only been crossed by three people.

The crossing will take anything from 50 to 90 days and the teams from all over the world will be aiming to break numerous records and in the main part to survive the extremely long and dangerous crossing. Unstable weather systems, sharks, intense heat and 40 foot waves will be a daily possibility during this first ever race across the Indian Ocean.

This will be the first time HM Prison Service have supported two of its staff in any challenge of this nature. They are relying on the crew to work professionally and tirelessly in representing the Prison Service and all the teams associated sponsors before, during and following the crossing.

They are currently working hard towards raising the profile of the team and raise the large amount of money needed to participate in a race of this nature. Also an intense amount of physical and mental preparation is required whilst continuing to work in their roles as Physical Education Instructors. PE Officers Ben Steadman and Mark Davis have fully committed themselves to this huge undertaking and are preparing for the challenge that has been put before them.

As well as racing and pushing themselves to the limits of human endurance they will be aiming to raise a large amount of money for Macmillan Cancer Support.