CALDERDALE'S mayor has pledged £50,000 to a £1m appeal for epilepsy research.
Clr Geraldine Carter is supporting Halifax born Marcus Thompson and his partner Sally Kettle in the Atlantic Rowing Challenge 2003.
The pair are among 30 teams taking part in a 3,000-mile journey across the Atlantic to Barbados.
They set off on October 19 in the 24ft wooden boat, hope to complete the challenge in 90 days and be in the Caribbean for Christmas.
Marcus, 36, who is epileptic and Sally, 26, aim to raise £1m to fund a new training fellowship at King's College Hospital, London and raise awareness and understanding of the condition.
Marcus, whose parents live in Linden Road, Halifax, was educated in the town and lives and works in Brighton. He is a comedy scriptwriter.
Sally is originally from Northampton and is a singer/songwriter.
She completed last year's London Marathon.
Although both physically fit, neither have had any experience of rowing.
Acknowledged as the World's toughest rowing race, both have had to take part in a gruelling training programme to compete in the race.
The record for the crossing stands at 41 days with the longest crossing logged at 111 days.
Contact Jane Sykes at the Epic Challenge for Epilepsy on 01422 825215 or 07721 889009.
