Heritage Resorts Welcome British Rowers to Mauritius following Charity Row Challenge across the Indian Ocean 

Heritage Resorts in the south of Mauritius is welcoming four British rowers as they finish a mammoth rowing challenge across the Indian Ocean from Australia to help raise awareness and funds for Young Onset Parkinson's Disease. Landing in the capital of Port Louis today, the quartet will stay at Heritage the Villas after their gruelling voyage of 3,600 nautical miles, and 1,920 hours of unassisted, non-stop rowing from the starting point of Exmouth, Western Australia.

Heritage Resorts is supporting the 'Row the Indian Ocean 2018' initiative by offering the group a well-deserved and rejuvenating home-from-home retreat at the exclusive Heritage the Villas. Set adjacent to the resort's private 2,500-hectare nature reserve, this idyllic setting will provide the men with much needed rest, relaxation and serenity, allowing them to reflect on their outstanding achievement for a worthy cause.

The Indian Row Challenge was inspired by one of the teammates Robin Buttery, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease himself just two years ago. By Robin taking part in this huge endurance challenge means that extensive research into the disease can be carried out at Oxford Brookes University, the results of which could modify how Parkinson's disease is explored and treated in the future.

Along with his teammates, skipper Billy Taylor and fellow rowers Barry Hayes and James Plumley, Robin will cross the finish line in mid-September. Fewer than 50 people can claim to have rowed the Indian Ocean – putting this into context, more than 500 people have been into space and Everest has been summited over 7,500 times. As they cross their finish line, the group can celebrate their colossal achievement and recuperate in Heritage Resorts' natural splendour before the final journey; home.

Specialising in wellness and sporting experiences, the rowers will have access to the onsite Seven Colours Spa, a hub dedicated to providing rejuvenating holistic treatments in the tropical surrounds, and the opportunity to receive recovery advice from the onsite wellbeing specialists. The men can also enjoy gentle activities that slowly gets them back on their feet, such as a nature wellness walk – a mindfulness experience that includes gentle stretching and breathing.

During their stay, the group will have access to a private chef that can prepare nourishing and nutritious Mauritian-inspired dishes to help regain their strength, all in the comfort of their own space. In addition to a dedicated concierge, a butler service and more, the rowers can enjoy the numerous restaurants and amenities at both five-star properties Heritage Le Telfair Golf & Wellness Resort, and Heritage Awali Golf & Spa Resort, including the 18-hole championship golf course.

About Heritage Resorts

Heritage Resorts are two five-star hotels – Heritage Le Telfair Golf & Wellness Resort and Heritage Awali Golf & Spa Resort, set in the Heritage Bel Ombre, on the unspoilt south coast of Mauritius. The Domaine offers the ultimate combination of beach, nature, relaxation and adventure. The resort has 12 restaurants, the Heritage Nature Reserve (complete with its own wellness and adventure activities), the C Beach Club, a kids' clubs, a babies' corner and a teens' club, a championship 18-hole golf course, a kitesurfing school, two spas, fitness centres and the romantic Heritage Le Chateau an 1800's colonial French mansion now housing a fine-dining restaurant.  For more information please visit: www.heritageresorts.mu

For media enquiries on Heritage Resorts' support of the Row the Indian Ocean 2018 initiative:

Felicity Brodrick, P1 Communications
T: +44(0)20 8614 7505 
E: felicity.brodrick@p1.communications.com 

About Row the Indian Ocean 2018

For media enquiries on the Row the Indian Ocean 2018 initiative:
Tracy Postill, Mave Agency
T: +44 (0) 7982 602 005
E: media@rowtheindianocean.com

Donations

The crew will be raising money in aid of Young Onset Parkinson's Disease via Clear Trust.  Donations can be made at http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/row-the-indian-ocean or

www.rowtheindianocean.com or text YOPD17 £ (plus the amount you would like to donate) to the number 70070.

About the crew

Billy Taylor, aged 44

Billy is a fire fighter and lives in Bracklesham Bay on the South Coast.  He divides his time between Bracklesham Bay and North Oxfordshire where his partner Louise lives with her three children. Billy sailed from Australia to England aged 17, delivered yachts all over the Mediterranean for many years and has sailed across the Indian Ocean twice. He has rowed across the Pacific Ocean with Barry Hayes and two other crew members and achieved two world records. He has run ultra-marathons and was also a consultant for a record-breaking ocean row across the Black Sea.

Barry Hayes, aged 35

Barry is a motivational speaker and lives in North Wales with his fiancé Emma and stepson Jack. 
Barry summited Kilimanjaro when he was 16, has completed marathons and ultra-marathons, trained for an Antarctic Challenge and more recently undertook an overland trip with Billy from the UK to Asia. Barry and Billy first met when they rowed the Pacific Ocean in 2014. This experience led him to become a motivational speaker and inspired him to start writing his first book.

Robin Buttery, aged 45

Robin is a technical instructor at De Montfort University, Leicester.  He lives in Leicester with his wife Nicola and son Rory.
Robin was diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson's Disease in June 2015 just before his 44th birthday. Rowing the Indian Ocean is so different to the lifestyle that Robin leads. He is neither an adventurer nor explorer but he feels that an experience like this provides a unique opportunity to show others that life doesn't have to stop with a diagnosis, whatever the diagnosis.  Through raising awareness, Robin hopes to show a positive image for Parkinson's sufferers and especially to people struggling to come to terms with a recent diagnosis.

James Plumley, aged 27

James is an adventurer and business owner from Guernsey.  He has competed in six world coastal rowing championships. In 2013, he took part in the GB Row race, rowing non-stop around the UK coastline. His crew broke the world speed record - a title that he still holds today. In 2014, he cycled two thousand miles from the UK to Serbia to raise awareness of flooding in the Balkans.