Challenges don't come any tougher than the Atlantic Rowing Race - especially when you have never rowed in your life.

That has not deterred adventurers Sally Kettle and Marcus Thompson.

The pair, whose combined water-borne experience is confined to a boating pond, are preparing to embark on the world's most gruelling rowing race.

To add to the pressure, they have committed themselves to raising £1 million for charity.

The couple have set themselves the extraordinary challenge to raise awareness about epilepsy.

Marcus, 35, known as Tommo, suffers from epilepsy and was planning a charity cycling trip.

Girlfriend Sally, 25, decided she wanted to go but Tommo ruled it was a boys-only trip.

Sally said: "I insisted on doing something so Marcus said, 'Okay, why don't we row the Atlantic?'."

The couple, of Oriental Place, Brighton, set about finding a boat and began organising sponsorship for the three-month trip.

Their epic journey, which begins next October, will take them from La Gomera in the Canary Islands, across 3,000 miles of open sea to Barbados.

Sally, a singer-songwriter who works for Colleys surveyors, Brighton, will skipper their 23ft boat.

Tommo, a comedy scriptwriter will be first mate. They will take turns to row for two hours at a time.

The boat will be equipped with a water-making machine, solar panels to power the satellite navigation system and a computer and web cam, to allow them to keep in touch. They will also be carrying enough dehydrated food for the non-stop journey.

Sally said: "The biggest worry is tankers - they are so huge they don't see you and you might get someone on the radio that can't understand the language. One of us will have to be awake 24 hours a day.

"Then there's the weather. There's always the possibility of 50ft waves, not to mention the sharks."

Tommo's epilepsy could prove the ultimate challenge.

Sally said: "If he has a seizure - and it's likely he will because of the physical exertion and tiredness involved - then we will deal with it.

"I will have to take over completely because they can knock him out for a week.

"He is really keen to remove the stigma attached to the condition and show people it doesn't have to control your life."

The couple began a crash course in rowing at the end of the summer.

"We have since learnt to scull with the Coastal Rowing Club but now it is too dark to go after work so we are concentrating on getting fit in the gym."

They spend two hours at the gym at the Brighton Health and Racquet Club five times a week.

The couple have already secured sponsorship from the Halifax building society and WaterRower, which makes rowing machines.

They will launch their million pound appeal at Wetherby racecourse in North Yorkshire next month, followed by a tour of the Lake District in January.

They have organised a St Valentine's Ball at the Royal Armouries in Leeds and another at The Ritz in London, later in the year.

Their road show will call in at London before the boat is transported to the Canaries in September.

To sponsor Sally and Tommo, visit www.rowing4 epilepsy.org or call 01422 825215.