Trinity Tide's 100 mile charity row
Trinity House's Thames Waterman Cutter will be rowed 100 miles in September to raise funds for the King's College Hospital Charity. The hospital saved the life of Trinity House's Assistant Functions Manager, and Trinity Tide's best ever coxswain, Zoë Richards, at the beginning of the year.
The message below is from Trinity Tide's captain, Joe Lane.
What are we up to?
On 14 September 2012 the Trinity Tide crew will embark on a grueling 100 mile row on the Thames, culminating on the 15 September with the 21 mile Great River Race. The Great River Race is London's River Marathon; a spectacular boat race up the Thames that attracts over 300 crews from all over the globe.
Why are we doing it?
Trinity Tide’s best ever coxswain Zoë Richards profoundly inspired the crew with her determination to get through the worst of times when she fell very ill at the end of 2011. Zoë spent many months undergoing numerous operations and enduring an intolerable amount of pain in the care of King’s College Hospital neurology department.
Thankfully Zoë is continuing to recover well and in the not-too-distant future may even be up for coxing us again! Zoë’s sheer strength of will to get through the worst of times inspired the crew to take on a challenge of their own, and to raise money to help King's College Hospital treat other people who find themselves in need in the future.
How, where and when?
We will launch our challenge early on the 14 September departing from Purley on Thames (upstream of Reading) and rowing 58 miles to Ham – the finish point of the Great River Race. If we make good time we’ll catch a couple of hours sleep under the stars before departing again at 4am to row to the start of the Great River Race in Greenwich. Another couple of hours rest at Trinity Tide’s home (the AHOY Centre) should set us up well for the punishing 21 mile race back upstream to Ham!
Four of Trinity Tide’s crew will row the full 100 miles with other crew members rowing sections along the route to maintain six oarsmen throughout. It was too difficult to chose who would take part so this setup enables all of the crew to do their bit, while maximising the challenge for the four core rowers.
Who?
Joe Lane (Captain), Stuart Turner, Toby Gould, and Eddy Heisterkamp will row the full 100 miles.
We hope most if not all of the rest of Trinity Tide’s inspirational crew will do their part by rowing or coxing marathon length stints along the route;Edgar King, Zoë Richards, Kevin Botting, Calum Sillars (YB), Nir Barak, Steve Terry, Craig Sparling, Alun Vincent, Alex Franklin, and Mick (I’m all wet).
If you would like to sponsor our rowers and help Kings College Hospital to save more lives please visit http://www.justgiving.com/Trinity-Tide
20/08/2012
Notes To Editors
Trinity House is the General Lighthouse Authority (GLA) for England and Wales, with responsibility for nearly 600 Aids to Navigation, from traditional aids such as lighthouses, buoys and beacons to the latest satellite navigation technology. In addition it inspects over 10,000 local Aids to Navigation provided by port and harbour authorities, and those positioned on offshore structures.
Incorporated by Royal Charter in 1514, the Corporation is also a major maritime charity, wholly funded by its endowments. The Corporation spends around £4m each year on its charitable activities including welfare of mariners, education and training, and the promotion of safety at sea. It is also a Deep Sea Pilotage Authority.
