St Catharine’s College alumna Emma Mitchell is set to row across the Pacific Ocean in April this year to raise money for charity.

Mitchell and her team of four hope to become the first female team ever to complete this route, and to do it in the fastest time. They are also seeking to raise £250,000 for Walking with the Wounded and Breast Cancer Care.

Mitchell is an experienced rower, having already represented Cambridge in the Boat Race and England in the Home International Regatta.

“I am always open to a challenge and the opportunity to be a part of the row came along and was something that I couldn't turn down," she said.

"I love the team aspect of this challenge in particular. Individually we are all fairly normal people but together we are a strong and resilient team doing something which will be amazing.”

The team of four – Mitchell, Laura Penhaul, Isabel Burnham and Natalia Cohen – call themselves the Coxless Crew. They will set out from San Francisco, California in April and finish in Cairns, Australia. This will cover 8,446 miles across the world’s largest ocean, and take five to six months depending on weather conditions.

After completing her Ph.D, Mitchell spent four months in Belize, learning how to survive in the jungle using only a machete. She has also completed the Mont Blanc Marathon, the Pembrokeshire Coast Challenge and the Berlin Marathon twice in two days, once on skates and once on foot.

“I rowed for CUWBC when I was at Cambridge and that definitely gave me an appreciation for the strength and support that having a strong team alongside you gives," Mitchell said.

"Plus I got a lot of sleep deprivation and time management skills from completing my final year whilst training twice a day!”

"I think it will definitely be much more a mental challenge than a physical one so we have been doing a lot of preparation with our sports psychologist," added Mitchell.