Rowing 3,200 miles to grant life-changing wishes — discover how our partners are making hope possible.
Posted on
January 14, 2026
By
At A&F Sprinklers, we believe our role extends beyond delivering high-quality fire sprinkler systems. Supporting our partners, our communities, and meaningful causes is a vital part of who we are. That’s why we’re proud to help share an inspiring story connected to one of our valued partners, Dunelm — a story that combines extraordinary human determination with a truly life-changing mission.
In January 2026, a team of four will take on one of the toughest endurance challenges on the planet: rowing 3,200 miles across the Atlantic Ocean, completely unsupported. No engine. No sails. No support boat. Just resilience, teamwork, and purpose.
One of the rowers is Nicky Allen, whose husband Matt Eckett is a Project Manager at Dunelm, a company we work closely with and value highly. Through this connection, we are honoured to help raise awareness and support for this remarkable challenge.
The team — aptly named “Team: Do The Thing” — are rowing to raise £200,000 for Make-A-Wish UK, with the aim of granting 100 wishes to critically ill children.
As Nicky explains:
“In January 2026, I’ll be rowing 3,200 miles across the Atlantic—no engine, no sails, no support boat—as part of Team: Do The Thing. Our goal: raise £200,000 for Make-A-Wish UK and grant 100 life-changing wishes for critically ill children.
These wishes are more than moments of joy — they’re lifelines. For children facing unimaginable challenges, they offer strength, hope, and something to look forward to. For families, they create space to breathe, reconnect, and feel supported. Every mile we row is a step toward making that possible.”
For children and families facing the toughest of circumstances, these wishes can mean everything — from meeting a hero, to experiencing a once-in-a-lifetime trip, to simply creating happy memories when they are needed most.
Make-A-Wish is a leading children’s charity dedicated to creating life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Their work goes far beyond a single moment of happiness — each wish is carefully designed to restore hope, strength, and joy during some of the most challenging times a child and their family can face.
Whether it’s meeting a hero, travelling to a dream destination, or experiencing something truly magical, every wish is tailored to the individual child. These experiences provide emotional relief, create lasting positive memories, and can have a powerful impact on a child’s wellbeing, as well as offering families precious time together away from hospital appointments and daily pressures.
By supporting Make-A-Wish UK, fundraisers like Team: Do The Thing are helping to ensure that more children across the country can experience hope when they need it most — turning uncertainty into possibility, and fear into joy.
We’d like to encourage our colleagues, partners, and wider network to support this incredible challenge in any way they can:
Every contribution — whether financial or simply sharing the message — helps bring hope, strength, and joy to children and families who need it most.
Supporting initiatives like this reflects our wider commitment to strong partnerships and positive social impact. You can learn more about our values, our people, and the relationships we build by visiting our
👉 https://www.afsprinklers.co.uk/about-us
Thank you for taking the time to read, support, and help make a difference.
At A&F Sprinklers, we believe our role extends beyond delivering high-quality fire sprinkler systems. Supporting our partners, our communities, and meaningful causes is a vital part of who we are. That’s why we’re proud to help share an inspiring story connected to one of our valued partners, Dunelm — a story that combines extraordinary human determination with a truly life-changing mission.
In January 2026, a team of four will take on one of the toughest endurance challenges on the planet: rowing 3,200 miles across the Atlantic Ocean, completely unsupported. No engine. No sails. No support boat. Just resilience, teamwork, and purpose.
One of the rowers is Nicky Allen, whose husband Matt Eckett is a Project Manager at Dunelm, a company we work closely with and value highly. Through this connection, we are honoured to help raise awareness and support for this remarkable challenge.
The team — aptly named “Team: Do The Thing” — are rowing to raise £200,000 for Make-A-Wish UK, with the aim of granting 100 wishes to critically ill children.
As Nicky explains:
“In January 2026, I’ll be rowing 3,200 miles across the Atlantic—no engine, no sails, no support boat—as part of Team: Do The Thing. Our goal: raise £200,000 for Make-A-Wish UK and grant 100 life-changing wishes for critically ill children.
These wishes are more than moments of joy — they’re lifelines. For children facing unimaginable challenges, they offer strength, hope, and something to look forward to. For families, they create space to breathe, reconnect, and feel supported. Every mile we row is a step toward making that possible.”
For children and families facing the toughest of circumstances, these wishes can mean everything — from meeting a hero, to experiencing a once-in-a-lifetime trip, to simply creating happy memories when they are needed most.
Make-A-Wish is a leading children’s charity dedicated to creating life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Their work goes far beyond a single moment of happiness — each wish is carefully designed to restore hope, strength, and joy during some of the most challenging times a child and their family can face.
Whether it’s meeting a hero, travelling to a dream destination, or experiencing something truly magical, every wish is tailored to the individual child. These experiences provide emotional relief, create lasting positive memories, and can have a powerful impact on a child’s wellbeing, as well as offering families precious time together away from hospital appointments and daily pressures.
By supporting Make-A-Wish UK, fundraisers like Team: Do The Thing are helping to ensure that more children across the country can experience hope when they need it most — turning uncertainty into possibility, and fear into joy.
We’d like to encourage our colleagues, partners, and wider network to support this incredible challenge in any way they can:
Every contribution — whether financial or simply sharing the message — helps bring hope, strength, and joy to children and families who need it most.
Supporting initiatives like this reflects our wider commitment to strong partnerships and positive social impact. You can learn more about our values, our people, and the relationships we build by visiting our
👉 https://www.afsprinklers.co.uk/about-us
Thank you for taking the time to read, support, and help make a difference.
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