Introducing A New Team Member: Charlie Crowson

I’m very happy to announce that Charlie Crowson will be joining me on the boat for the swim leg. He’ll be incharge of keeping me sane and healthy whilst swimming 8hours a day!

Who are you?

Charlie Crowson – The 314th most eligible bachelor in Wolverhampton.

What are you doing on the trip?

I am essentially the Mr Miyagi and will be offering support where needed. I will also be arranging fundraising with Dan over the next 5 months. This trip is not just a physical challenge beyond most people’s imagination; it is also a challenge of the mind. Dan is going to need all the support he can get because although people say ‘it’s a small world’, it really isn’t that small at all – it’s really big.

How did you get involved?

I was at university with Dan in 2000-2003, where we lived opposite each other and became extremely competitive at curbee. Several crazy stories crop up when I think back to uni days and several include Big Dan; the time we drove to Blackpool from Leeds at 2am because Dan wanted to paddle in the sea, the time Dan went out 50 nights on the trot because he was ‘bored’, the time Dan ate 3 giant Toblerone’s and a packet of Penguins in less than 7 minutes, The time we drove to Trafalgar Square on a late Sunday evening and made it back for lectures at 9am, the daft challenges that made uni so fun. When I heard that Dan was cycling from John O’Groats to Land’s End some years back, I was impressed. Korea to Cape Town was some raise on that and this triathlon is something else! I promised Dan I would help out on the last trip but couldn’t be there due to commitments in Thailand, so I am now committing to the Atlantic swim and will do everything I can to help him when things get difficult.

I left the UK in 2004 to work abroad and love visiting new countries. I know the Atlantic doesn’t count as a new country, but it will certainly be a new experience for us all.

What do you do normally?

I work in Thailand with Dragonfly, a charity that focuses on education, community development and child sponsorship in rural Thai provinces – www.dragonflycommunity.org. Our most recent project has been a mud brick library at a children’s home in Khon Kaen which we are currently completing. Have a look here to see how we build: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKN18zik_3s

Relevant skills and experience?

Dan simply couldn’t find anyone else who would agree to be his boat man. Plus I said I would feed him Toblerone from the boat. I have also offered to be a smaller, weaker swimmer to distract the sharks.

Favourite wake up song?

Bill Withers – Lovely Day. Especially when I know it is going to be one.

Favourite movie for when we’re lost in the middle of nowhere?

Nothing too dramatic and nothing too gripping. I don’t want to be an emotional wreck and I don’t want to get all profound so I’m going to go for ‘Dumb & Dumber’. The fact that Dan looks a bit like Jeff Daniels and I used to have a Jim Carrey haircut makes it even more apt.

Worst moment travelling?

An 8 hour bus in Malaysia where I was in the middle on the back seat with hot, sweaty people either side of me and I was the only person on the bus not next to a window. I woke up after a little snooze and THERE WAS SOMEBODY SAT ON MY LAP! Warm. Running out of money in Vietnam comes pretty close, but I really hate being warm!

What will you miss most whilst on the trip?

I will miss krapow moo (spicy Thai basil with chili and pork) from my local shop – the lady there cooks for me every day and has it down to a T. I’m thinking land too.

Why are you doing this?

I have been working for a foundation in Thailand for the last 15 months and have had a great time raising money for our projects and working with Thai children. If Dan raises even half his target, this could benefit so many people and leave a great story in history. I want to be a part of it for the charity, for Dan and for me.

Why do you think Dan is doing this?

He has admitted that he doesn’t really like cycling, so I’m guessing he either really likes swimming or running? He is always looking for a new challenge and since I have known him he has continually surprised me with feats of increasing impossibility/stupidity?! Cycling from John O’Groats to Land’s End, then Trafalgar Square to Cape Town, then Korea to Cape Town through some of the most dangerous countries on the planet. What more is there to do? Well I think he has found it.

2012 may see him climb a ladder to the moon or jump the Channel-who knows?

1. Tom says:
   2010-01-19 13:01:49
   Charlie, that's awesome news. I was going to volunteer to come and help with the library then Maria got pregnant. Seems like a lame excuse now that I've put it in writing...
2. video email says:
   2010-01-01 16:58:52
   Very super information.
3. Os says:
   2009-12-26 10:20:32
   I once met this Charlie Crowson character: he's the real deal - a true champ. Go Charlie!