We are Call of the Heron: an Anglo-Belgian duo with salt in our blood and a very stubborn streak. In December 2026, we will attempt to row from Tenerife to Martinique — 2,800 miles of open ocean in a 7-metre boat, with no engine, no sail, and no support. Just two sets of oars, solar panels, and a lot of very dehydrated food.

Our team name comes from a grey heron that we often see during our training rows on the canal. Its sudden, unmistakable cry feels like a challenge — a call to go further, to do something bigger, to honour the wild urge to test your limits. For us, that call became an ocean crossing.

Kimberley Hansford (Anderson) is a British scientist and endurance athlete based in Brussels. She holds a PhD in biotechnology, manages chronic illness with quiet precision, and has a long track record of doing ridiculous things simply because they are hard. She's completed a full Ironman, multiple marathons, and swims year-round in open water. During the crossing, she will be using real-time glucose monitors to track how type 1 diabetes behaves under extreme conditions — a data set rarely captured and potentially valuable to the broader scientific community.

Lieven Cornelis is a Belgian adventurer and rower based in Brussels. With a background in photography and visual storytelling, Lieven brings both grit and creativity to the team. He’s the sort of person who will row through the night and still crack a joke before sunrise. His role in this project includes documenting the build-up, maintaining the boat's systems, and making sure neither rower forgets to eat. He’s also the one most likely to spot dolphins.

This is not just a sporting challenge. It’s a leap into uncertainty, a test of resilience, and a reminder that ordinary people can do extraordinary things if they decide to try.