Two Atlantic oarsmen attempting to raise money for the British Heart Foundation are seeking corporate sponsors to support them.

Steve Coe, 48, and Richard Hoyland, 40, both from Leatherhead, need business sponsors to help fund the costs of preparing their boat with all the necessary equipment to undertake their voyage safely.

The sponsorship will allow Steve and Richard to compete in the 2009 Atlantic Rowing Race, which starts on December 6 in the Canary Islands, and finishes in Antigua in the West Indies in February.

Their initial goal is to raise £50,000 for the British Heart Foundation, but they will also be raising funds for the Princess Alice Hospice in Esher where Steve’s father-in-law was treated.

Richard said: “I lost my father to heart disease and Steve’s father suffered recent serious heart problems. We don’t want other families to suffer the pain we experienced, and we want to help with the Foundation’s research into this terrible disease.”

Interested parties can contact Richard or Steve via