MEMBERS of local Pulse Gym in West Buckland rowed for 24 hours from Saturday June 27 to June 28 in aid of two charities.

60-year-old Pulse gym member Melanie Smith will be taking on the World’s Toughest row challenge rowing 5000 km across the Atlantic from La Gomera in the Canary Islands to Antigua in January 2027 as part of a team of 12, raising funds for MIND and Huntington’s Disease Association.

A spokesperson said: “Pulse didn’t hesitate in getting behind her to support the cause.

“When it comes to community spirit and an excellent team of coaches, Pulse cannot be beaten and in total, the participants rowed just short of 1 million meters and made it the equivalent of a 5th of the way across in just 24 hours!”