A HELENSBURGH female submariner who is about to undertake a gruelling Atlantic row is one of the inspirational figures featured in a new Royal Navy campaign.
Lieutenant Izzy Rawlinson is currently serving as a Marine Engineering Officer with the UK submarine service.
Next year she is set to make history by leading the first all-serving military women’s team to row the Atlantic – known as 'Team Valkyrie' – in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge.
But before then, the 30-year-old is one of the stars of a new Royal Navy campaign, Celebration of Duty, which highlights serving members of the Navy who give back to their local communities.
The films, featuring serving Royal Navy personnel and veterans, are being shown on screens in locations across the UK, including the iconic Piccadilly Circus digital billboard in London - and were also rolled out at cinemas from November 17.
Izzy said she hoped the campaign would help showcase some of the fantastic work being done by the armed forces.
“This campaign gives us an opportunity to promote women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, as well as women in the armed forces,” she said.
“Hopefully it will also allow us to showcase the capabilities of the team and the opportunities available to us.”
Izzy is undertaking the Atlantic Rowing Challenge to raise money for charities and organisations supporting veterans and their families.
She is also passionate about supporting people with their mental health resilience and well-being.
She continued: “Mental health is something I am very passionate about. It is something that should be spoken about more freely and supported more openly.
"If, along this journey, we can improve the conversation so that one person benefits that means we’re heading in the right direction.
“The challenge also allows us to raise money for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity and the Submarine family, both of whom do fantastic work with serving members, their families, and veterans.
"We have a fantastic team of amazing women, and the journey ahead is very exciting.”
Known as “the world’s toughest row”, the Talisker Challenge will see participants row from La Gomera in the Canary Islands to Nelson’s Harbour in Antigua - a journey of 3,000 miles.
It is a hugely demanding event requiring resilience, determination, and self-sufficiency – values fostered by the submarine service.
During her day job, Izzy has led teams to operate and maintain a submarine’s nuclear reactor and ship’s systems on deployment in some of the most extreme environments on the planet.
When not on submarines or training to row the Atlantic, Izzy can be found representing the Royal Navy in cycling.
She has also represented the Navy in rugby, swimming, water polo, and triathlon.
For more information and to watch the campaign film, visit royalnavy.mod.uk/celebrate
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