Family who lost dad to suicide to row Atlantic

A family who lost their father to suicide plan to row across the Atlantic in his memory.

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

Despite not being rowers, the family wanted to take on the 3,000-mile (4,828km) challenge to raise funds for the charity Suicide&Co, which provided them with counselling following Robert's death.

They expect the unsupported row, from La Gomera in the Canary Islands to Antigua, to take them between 40 and 60 days depending on the weather.

Charlotte Ash, 62, described her husband as a "jolly, calm and placid" person.

"It was so shocking I can't even really begin to describe it," she said.

"I came home one day and police were in my driveway and they relayed the news they had found a body.

"Honestly, I had absolutely no idea that such a thing could ever have happened, it was just a normal day at the office and then suddenly that happened."

It was Robert and Charlotte's youngest son Henry, 31, who came up with the idea for the row, which the family will take on in December 2027.

"I'm not a rower, we're not really a water-based family," Henry admitted.

"I've just always had an urge to row an ocean from quite a young age.

"A few people from school had done it, I'd always wanted to do it so now seems like as good a time as ever in Dad's memory to take it on."

The Ash family aim to buy their boat in April so they can start training on the water and will also need to complete courses onsea navigation, weather routing and first aid.

"They say that rowing an ocean is 90% getting to the start line, the row is the victory lap of your campaign," Henry said.

To prepare for their "massive" challenge, the family are spending time in the gym and the boys are running the London Marathon to improve their stamina.

"It's long term and I find that quite a challenging thought given that I don't like going to the gym that much," Charlotte said.

The ultimate goal of the row is to raise £300,000, of which more than £200,000 will be going to Suicide&Co.

"They 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.

"I hope anyone going through the same as what we are feel able to reach out and know there is hope after the darkest of times."

Since the launch of their campaign in October, the family have already raised about £85,000.

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