When Felicity Ashely battled through a violent Atlantic storm during her 3000-mile rowing challenge, she felt invincible. Little did she know that the stomach cramps she experienced mid-ocean were not from dehydration, but something far more serious.
The Mothership's Atlantic Dream
Felicity was part of The Mothership, a team of four working mothers determined to row across the Atlantic Ocean as part of the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge. Alongside her sister Pippa and crewmates Jo and Lebby, they aimed to show their combined eleven children that "no dream is too big" and that courage means pushing through fear.
The journey began in December 2022 from La Gomera in the Canary Islands. After nearly two years of rigorous training that involved rising before dawn six days a week, Felicity felt prepared for the challenge ahead. Their routine was relentless: row in pairs for two hours on, two hours off, 24 hours per day.
Ocean Challenges and Hidden Symptoms
The ocean presented both wonders and dangers. Dolphins raced alongside their boat, while equipment failures threatened their progress. On Christmas Eve, their water maker broke, followed by steering failure when large waves knocked them off course.
Around halfway through the journey, Felicity began experiencing stomach cramps and needed frequent trips to their makeshift toilet. The team laughed it off, blaming dehydrated ration packs and the sheer volume of food required for their physical exertion.
After 40 days at sea, they arrived in Antigua, finishing 13th out of 37 boats and beating many men's and mixed crews. The euphoria of completion was overwhelming as Felicity reunited with her children and father.
The Devastating Diagnosis
Back home, the stomach cramps worsened and Felicity noticed blood in her stools. Three weeks and several tests later, during a colonoscopy meant to rule out cancer, she heard the words no one wants to hear: "You have bowel cancer."
"I was stunned," Felicity recalls. "I had just rowed an ocean, how could I be seriously ill?" Her children were just four, seven and nine at the time, and her father was already battling terminal cancer.
She underwent surgery to remove part of her bowel, but when cancer cells were found in her lymph nodes two weeks later, she faced six rounds of chemotherapy. Her rowing experience proved invaluable, honing the physical and mental resilience needed to endure treatment.
Stronger Than The Storm
Felicity had her final chemo session almost exactly a year after the Atlantic row. Now three years into a five-year surveillance period, she remains cancer-free. In May 2025, she celebrated by trekking to Everest Base Camp to run the world's highest marathon.
She has since left her corporate role to become a motivational speaker and author. Her book, Stronger Than the Storm, published in autumn 2024, aims to inspire others to believe in themselves and keep going despite life's challenges.
"We're all capable of far more than we think," Felicity says. "My message, especially to young girls and my own children, is this: don't let fear or other people's expectations define you. You are stronger than you know, and you can weather any storm."
