Hollywood star Mark Wahlberg surprised three Scottish brothers rowing across the Pacific Ocean with a second call in a matter of weeks – and says it won’t be the last.
‘You guys are bored. You need someone to talk to. You need someone to, you know, give you a little pump up. Let me know. I’m available,’ said the Perfect Storm actor.
The Scottish trio – Jamie, Lachlan and Ewan Maclean – are currently 66 days into a 9,000-mile, non-stop, unsupported row from Lima to Sydney to raise £1 million for clean water projects in Madagascar via their charity, The Maclean Foundation.
Wahlberg, who first surprised them with a video call earlier in the row, has now doubled down on his suggestion of playing one – or all – of them in a film.
He joked: ‘Well, you know what would make me a legend? Playing one of you guys, or all three, in a movie. There’ve been a few actors who’ve played twins before, but I could maybe play all three of you, change up my look a little bit.’
The 53-year-old actor and entrepreneur also pledged to welcome them personally at one of his Wahlburgers restaurants in Australia.
‘You’re going to be received with a big hero’s welcome over there. All the food and drink you can handle, boys,’ he said.
‘You guys are doing something that’s so extraordinary. It’s another level. This is real man sh*t you’re doing.
‘You’re out there with big smiles on your faces, pounding away, while everybody else is lying in bed in dreamland, nice and dry, and still waking up complaining about something.
‘You’re not doing this for attention – you’re doing it to raise attention for a very worthy cause. You guys are real men. You’re f***ing warriors. It’s incredible.
‘Hopefully you’ll inspire other people to find something important to do to raise awareness. It’s awesome, guys.’
The brothers, who previously set three world records during their 2020 Atlantic row, are more than halfway into their 120-day Pacific challenge. They’ve battled salt sores, relentless weather, a broken water maker and a faulty auto helm – raising over £125,000 so far.
Their 28-foot carbon fibre boat, Rose Emily, is named in memory of their late sister. With no engine, no sail and no support crew, they row in two-hour shifts, surviving on freeze-dried meals and desalinated water.
They recently spotted land for the first time on the journey as the Marquesas Islands appeared on the horizon.
‘Oh man, we appreciate you taking the time,” the brothers told Wahlberg. ‘That was such a morale boost. we cannot tell you how much we got out of that last chat, how much positivity in the days afterwards, it really kept us going. It’s unbelievable that someone like you can just make a bit of time to chat to us, it’s really really kind. So special. You’re with us for the journey now.
‘Arrival still feels like a lifetime away. We’re trying, we’re so excited for it, but we’re also very conscious. We’ve still got a good 55 days or more at sea. Need to get the job done, but we honestly, can’t wait.’
As winds picked up to over 30 knots, soaking the cabin mid-call, Wahlberg caught them up on life since their last chat two weeks earlier.
‘I had my birthday, and Father’s Day was yesterday,’ he said from his home in Las Vegas.
‘Just been trying to spend time with the kids, work out, get back in shape, lose the weight from the last movie, and get my golf game back. Doing that super early before the family wakes up — and then all the other work stuff, brands, business, the lot.
‘That whole time you guys have had big smiles on your faces, pounding away.’
Read more News stories here.
Subscribe to read the latest issue of Scottish Field.
Author
TAGS
FOLLOW US
