A team of intrepid women have almost finished their trans-Atlantic row to raise awareness of human trafficking.

The Row for Freedom team, consisting of Julia Immonen, Debbie Beadle, Helen Leigh, Kate Richardson and Katie Pattison-Hart has been racing 3,000 miles across the Atlantic since December as part of the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge.

Fingers crossed, they look set to set a new world record as the first five-woman team to complete the crossing.

Rowing unaided, and with limited space on the boat, the women aim to generate enough interest in their efforts to raise awareness and funds for charities End Child Prostitution, Pornography and the Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes (ECPAT UK) and the A21 Campaign to abolish injustice in the 21st century.

Four of the team only learned how to row last year, taking up lessons with Putney Town Rowing Club, in Mortlake, in July.

Debbie Beadle, 31, of Maida Vale, said: “Putney Town were such a support since the beginning.

“Four out of six of us couldn’t row, so Julia and I approached the club and they said they’d help. Two of their veteran team offered to train us. We learned to row from July this year.

“The cause is what keeps us going though, it is such a massive issue we thought we are going to do something massive and get attention and raise as much awareness as we could.”

The team, who hope to complete the crossing on Saturday, January 21, said they were pleased at how far they had made it but could not wait to come to the end and have a well-earned break.

Miss Beadle said: “It’s been extremely difficult doing this challenge, at the beginning we lost our skipper so we went down from six crew members to five and even in the first two weeks everything broke.

“For the last 15 days we have been emergency pumping water. meaning there is always a girl pumping water to get us enough to drink.

“Goodness it is going to feel like such an achievement, we are so excited about getting to the other end.”

To sponsor the Row for Freedom team, or to follow their efforts, visit rowforfreedom.com.