After returning to the town where she learnt her trade world record breaking rower Emma Mitchell has revealed she hopes to team up with schools in the area and inspire students with her story.

The former Danesfield School pupil returned to Marlow last week after rowing 8500 miles across the pacific with the four strong Coxless Crew.

And now back firmly on dry land 30-year-old Emma has said her key focus is to smash the £250,000 fundraising target with her team for charities Breast Cancer Care and Walking the Wounded.

Emma said: “It is nice being back. Having proper food is probably the best thing about being at home. Before I left my grandma promised to cook me a roast dinner it was so good having roast potatoes.

“The food we had out there as all freeze dried. It was edible but a lot of it was curry and when you’re in ridiculous heat the last thing you want is a curry.

“I’m hoping to work in education eventually so would like to go in to schools and talk about the row and show people they can do anything they want to do.”

Two other permanent members of the team joined Emma on board were Laura Penhaul 32 and Natalia Cohen, 30.

They were later accompanied by 31-year-old Isabel Burnham for the first leg of the voyage to Hawaii, 27-year-old Lizanne van Vuuren for the second leg from Hawaii to Samoa and 25 year old Meg Dyos for the final stretch from Samoa to Cairns.

After landing back in the UK last week, Emma – who previously lived in Portsmouth - and the rest of the crew are taking a well-earned rest to catch up with family and friends before they continue fundraising.

The team will then pour their efforts in to planning an auction at the London Aquarium to add to their growing total.

So far the team have raised £50,000, but are confident they will be able to raise the full £250,000 as they continue to campaign.

The former Cambridge student was the only member of the crew with any previous rowing experience, having trained at the Marlow rowing club - but she said the challenge was more mental than physical.

She said: “It was not that much about the rowing but more the mental challenge. But I was the one that got to share my passion for rowing with the other girls.

“One of my parents friends rowed at the club and said I should come along so I started and it got out of hand.

“I rowed every day then I carried on when I was at Cambridge. Then I would come back to the rowing club and I was welcomed back with open arms.

“I haven’t actually gone over there since I came back but I’m planning on it.”

For more information on the voyage and to donate go to http://coxlesscrew.com/