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Charity Rowathon triumph
16 October 2009
Improving the lives of children
Over 500 people; students, monks, teachers, parents, approximately fifty children from local primary schools and members of the public took part in the Rowathon in the St Alban Centre last weekend on 32 Concept 2 rowing machines. The same rowing machines used in the indoor British Rowing Championships!
The event provided a wonderful example of the whole community working together for a common goal - the international charity, Hope and Homes for Children.
Throughout the weekend the competitors covered a combined distance of over 2,500km - the equivalent distance of rowing from the North Sea at Hull to the Black Sea - a tremendous team effort.
On Friday night 5 students, Tom Asquith (EW), Sebastian Tate (EW), Gawain Owen (C), Sam Price (C) and Ross Dwyer (EW) were amongst 11 rowers taking part in an endurance challenge to row 50km each in 4 to 5 hrs. Throughout the weekend there were various events including houses rowing 100km each in the team competitions with up to 40 members of each house taking part across all year groups. Racing was very competitive but the spirit and support between teams was excellent throughout. Some commented that the decibel levels of support could be heard in York!
St Margaret's won the girls event and St Thomas' pipped St Hugh's to the post winning by about 250m after over 1hr and 40 minutes of racing - an amazingly tight margin. Trophies will be awarded to both houses in due course.
Mark Cook, the Director of Hopes and Homes said at a recent lecture delivered here that £1,000 ensures that a child from Eastern Europe is guaranteed a loving and supporting home for a year. The event will have raised between £15,000 and £20,000 and make a real difference to the lives of so many children in the world.