A SKIPPER will be rowing 33 miles through tidal river waters in memory of her friend who took his own life.

Stacey Belbin, who runs Lady Grace Boat Trips around Mersea Island, will be rowing through the River Blackwater and is setting off from the island on Thursday.

That is despite having a pacemaker fitted and an unaligned hip.

Ms Belbin, 30, is using the row to fundraise for Samaritans, which helped and supported her following the loss of her friend Sam Lightfoot.

The course she will be rowing will see her depart the West Mersea creeks, through the harbour and into the River Blackwater, before going on to the Bench Head to Fullbridge and back to Mersea again, a total of 33 miles. She aims to start her row by 6am and is aiming to finish at approximately 6.30pm.

Ms Belbin has set up a Just Giving page to raise £2,000 and has already raised more than half her goal.

She said: “I wanted to do the maddest thing I could.

“I have a pacemaker due to having two heart conditions and I was advised not to row as the leads can come undone from your heart.

“Plus my hip is not aligned. So this was the biggest challenge, hopefully I can survive it.”

“Losing Sam earlier this year came as a complete shock to me, It was devastating and nothing will ever fill the emptiness that he has left behind.

Sam always had a smile, he was the last person you would ever expect to be suffering as much as he was.

“The Samaritans were so helpful and supportive and I hope the money I raise will help to support other family and friends of a loved one lost and maybe even support and deter someone else from taking their own life.”

The Samaritans are a charity dedicated to helping anyone in need by offering a safe place to talk about whatever problems they have.

Ms Belbin’s course, once completed, will represent one mile rowed for every year of Sam’s life.

She said: “We all struggle and we all need help from time to time.

“Sometimes we can’t find the strength or courage to speak out.

“Sadly Sam didn’t speak out and he is now gone, and it is us that are left behind who are suffering with the emptiness.

“The most important thing here is to raise an awareness.

“Suicide is not something people want to talk about.

“But if I can encourage just one person who is in that dark place to pick up their phone and talk to someone, which spares one family going through the grief we have, I will be happy.”

To donate, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/stacey-belbin.