Two years after rowing the Atlantic Ocean in one of the world’s toughest endurance events, Edge Hill University alumnus Dafydd Helps-Fursse is preparing for his next extraordinary challenge – an expedition to cross the South Pole in support of men’s mental health charities.
Dafydd graduated from Edge Hill in 2014 with a BSc (Hons) Science with Physics with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), laying the foundations for a teaching career that has taken him around the world before leading him towards some of the planet’s most demanding expeditions.
Having secured his place at Edge Hill through Clearing, Dafydd quickly realised he had found the right university.
Dafydd said: “I visited the University for an interview and was just blown away by the campus and facilities on offer to students. The campus is a special place and by far one of the most beautiful campuses in the UK. It was a pleasure to walk round and I immediately knew it was the place to be for the next three years.”
He credits the University’s teaching staff with giving him the confidence and skills to succeed in the classroom.
He commented: “We had some incredible lecturers who truly loved the art of teaching. They put a huge amount of time and effort into our cohort and ensured we had the necessary tools at our disposal when we entered the workplace. I honestly can’t thank each and every one of them enough.”
Dafydd also received support throughout his studies after sharing that he has dyslexia.
Dafydd said: “My lecturers supported me significantly when it came to projects and papers. They would often allow me to submit multiple drafts and offer feedback on language and spelling, which ultimately made a huge difference to my overall grade.”
After graduating, Dafydd secured his first teaching role through his final Edge Hill placement, receiving a job offer from the school on the same day as his interview.
Since then, his career has taken him far beyond the UK. He spent five years teaching in Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates, where he taught a member of the Royal Family and led student expeditions to Nepal and Borneo through World Challenge.
Today, he is Lead Practitioner of Science at King Edmund School in Essex, where he is helping to develop the next generation of teachers.
Reflecting on his degree, Dafydd believes the extensive classroom experience and educational knowledge he gained at Edge Hill gave him a real advantage.
Dafydd commented: “My peers and I were rarely overshadowed by students who had completed a PGCE or Teach First course. Our extended study of education gave us a strong footing when we entered the workplace and now the majority of my peers are in leadership roles or close to becoming Heads of School.”
Alongside his teaching career, Dafydd has developed a passion for endurance challenges that raise awareness of important causes.
In 2024, he and friends Richard Wilkinson and Scott Brown, competing as Oardinary Buoys, completed the World’s Toughest Row, covering more than 3,000 nautical miles from La Gomera in the Canary Islands to Antigua in just over 41 days.
Dafydd said: “It was a completely unsupported expedition, so for those 41 days, my crew and I ate, slept, rowed and looked after each other non-stop. We would row for two hours, take a two-hour break where we would eat, sleep and use the toilet, then row again. We did this for the entire journey, never taking a day or shift off.
“When we finally arrived in Antigua, we were met by the sound of super yachts blowing their horns and our loved ones cheering from the quayside. I remember getting off the boat and not being able to stand. I had lost 12kg in 41 days but gained an experience I will never forget.”
Now, the trio have set their sights on an even greater challenge – crossing the South Pole by 2029 or 2030 to raise awareness of men’s mental health and support charities including CALM and Andy’s Man Club.
Dafydd commented: “Men’s mental health continues to be an issue within today’s society. So many men take their lives every day, yet there is little being done about it. We want to show what ‘Oardinary’ men can achieve while helping those who are trying to support men through difficult times.”
Although his career and adventures have taken him across the globe, Dafydd says Edge Hill remains a place that feels like home and one that played a vital role in shaping both his professional and personal journey.
Dafydd said: “Edge Hill is a home. It’s a place I could walk around comfortably now. I would recommend attending Edge Hill to any student seeking a university education somewhere they are supported, accepted and challenged to grow. I always found the staff really cared for the students and wanted to make a positive contribution to society.”
For current and prospective students, his advice is simple: “Take every opportunity Edge Hill throws at you. Join every club, attend every lecture and never miss a social event. You never know where these things might lead you.”
Find out more about studying at Edge Hill University. Apply through Clearing.
August 5, 2026
