Two men from Folkestone are due to set off on a gruelling row across the North Atlantic Ocean this weekend, hoping to raise thousands for two youth charities along the way.

Businessmen Ricky Reina and John Wilson will begin their journey to tackle the infamous Columbus Route, by rowing the 3800 nautical miles from Cadiz in Spain to Antigua in under three months.

The pair will row at sea two hours on, two hours off, for 24 hours a day, seven days a week, while battling the elements.

The money raised along the way will go to Clic Sargent and the Shepway Sports Trust.

In addition, working in collaboration with the International Doctoral School in Sea Studies, EIDEMAR, in Spain, the pair will also be collecting data from the surface and under the Atlantic Ocean to support Professor Fidel Echevarría and his team to study the impact of plastics in the ocean.

The duo currently hold the record for the world’s indoor longest continual row, but the record attempt this month takes their extreme efforts to a whole new level.

Mr Reina, 47, who owns the Reina Group, said: "We are trying to achieve something amazing and to make a real difference in the lives of people less fortunate.

"We are challenging ourselves in a way that is far greater than ever before, rowing across the world’s second largest ocean.

"We want to raise as much money as possible to benefit others whilst at the same time providing vital statistics and information to help reduce the issues we face as a planet around plastics in our oceans.”

The challenge itself has never been achieved by two men, but their task has been repeatedly postponed by poor weather to date.

Mr Wilson, who's 57 and a self-employed electrician, said: "Throughout our lives we have been helped, mentored and supported by many people and it is now time for us to give back.

"We have chosen charities close to our hearts and minds, all who provide, support, inspiration and a sense of community to a great many deserving young people.

"Everybody deserves a helping hand sometimes and who better than a super hero or two!"

Scientists estimate that every year, over 12.5 million tonnes of plastic end up in oceans, killing marine life and ending up back in the seafood we eat.

By raising awareness by collecting their data, the pair hope they can in some way help governments and corporations around the world tackle the issues associated with plastic.

Donations to their row can be made on the Atlantic Avengers’ website www.atlanticavengers.com.