SEARCHING for a new direction, a former Kew resident will be rowing across the Atlantic to raise money for charity.

Roz Savage, 37, a former investment banker, will attempt to row 3,000 miles from east to west to raise £30,000 for The Prince's Trust.

Last week she met with Richmond Park MP Susan Kramer who offered her support.

"It captures the imagination," said Ms Kramer, who has tried rowing at Barn Elms.

"I can see the attraction of taking on the challenge. I think it is an important message for women.

"There is so much pressure to do everything all at once. Roz is saying you can do one thing and then do something else."

But why did Roz decide to take on this challenge?

"I was looking for a new direction in life, maybe it was a case of an early mid-life crisis," she explained.

"It seemed challenging but do-able, the perfect balance between pushing myself but not stupid. It is not all about brute strength and brute muscles, it is about your will to continue.

"I am planning to row for an average of 16 hours a day. I have been training for at least eight hours a day on the rowing machine. The distance I cover will depend very much on the wind. Hopefully it will be pushing me in the right direction."

Roz aims to make it from San Sebastian, La Gomera, where she departs in November, to Nelson's Dockyard Antigua by January, 22, 2006, her mother's birthday, although she insists that whether she makes it to the finishing line by then is out of her control.

Aboard the boat will be a water maker, a satellite phone and a laptop so she can keep people in contact with her progress on her website.

The food she will carry will total half a million calories ranging from porridge and cereal bars to dried evening meals.

A shore manager will ensure Roz is on the right path and all is going well.

To keep her spirits high she has uploaded an eclectic mix of 10,000 songs onto her iPod.

"My biggest concern will be my water maker breaking down," said Roz.

"It is possible the boat will capsize a number of times but it is self-righting.

"I am worried about sharks. They like to scrape their backs on the barnacles that grow on the bottom of the boat. You have to keep the bottom of the boat clean and that means jumping into the sea with the sharks.

"But at the moment I feel like the hardest part of the challenge is going to be getting to the start line," she said. "Then life will become simple."

To help Roz reach her total visit www.rozsavage.com or pledge directly to The Prince's Trust.