A four-man crew is set to test their endurance in a 24-hour rowathon to raise funds for a Cornish mental health charity for young people.

The Invictus Atlantic team, from Cornwall, has organised this event to raise funds for the Invictus Trust.

The four friends, who are skipper James Brittain-Long, Paul Hayes, Luke Morgan and David Radford-Wilson, will take on the challenge next week.

Starting at 3pm on Friday, November 15 at 3pm and ending at 3pm the following day, the non-stop event at Falmouth's Events Square will replicate the gruelling schedule the team will face when they row across the Atlantic Ocean in December.

The team will row 3,000 miles in shifts of two hours on, two hours off.

Skipper James Brittain-Long (Image: Invictus Atlantic) James, skipper of the Invictus Atlantic, said: "Rowing across the Atlantic is one of the greatest challenges you can take on, but we’re doing this to support young people facing their own battles.

"Adolescent mental health in Cornwall is something we’re passionate about, and Invictus Trust does incredible work to help young people get the support they need.

"We hope this rowathon inspires people to join us in raising funds and awareness for this cause, while giving a taste of the gruelling schedule we'll be facing for real in just a few weeks' time."

The Invictus Atlantic crew is taking part in The World's Toughest Row, an annual challenge that sees 44 international teams row from La Gomera in the Canaries to Antigua in the Caribbean.

They expect to take six or seven weeks to cross the Atlantic in their 8.5m boat, consuming the equivalent of 26 Mars bars of calories every day.

The rowathon is part of their training, which has included overnight rows and a four-day return journey to the Isles of Scilly.

The crew, which includes a former Royal Marine Commando, a former RNAS Culdrose helicopter pilot and a former Royal Engineer Officer, hope to raise enough money to run a counselling service for 11 to 21-year-olds for a second year.

Mandy Spencer, commercial director of team sponsor Aspects Holidays, said: "James and the team have been training hard for their epic row and we're very proud to be supporting the Invictus Atlantic crew on their inspiring journey, and in helping to raise funds for the vital work of Invictus Trust in Cornwall.

"We hope that people will turn out to cheer them on in Falmouth and donate whatever they can spare to such an amazing cause."

To learn more about the Invictus Atlantic challenge or to donate to the team's fundraising efforts, visit the Invictus Atlantic website.