British Rowing joins forces with Cancer Research UK for The Great Row

In partnership with the Boat Races, Cancer Research UK and British Rowing are encouraging thousands across the nation to take on an indoor rowing challenge

In partnership with this year’s annual Boat Races, Cancer Research UK and British Rowing are encouraging thousands across the nation to take on an indoor rowing challenge as part of The Great Row initiative to raise funds to help beat cancer

Those wanting to take on The Great Row can enter as an individual or a team and choose from different challenges, with rowing distances starting from 2,000 metres up to a full marathon. The chosen distance should be covered on an indoor rowing machine and completed during ‘Challenge Week’, a week before The Boat Races take place on Sunday, 2 April.

“The Great Row is flexible and includes a challenge to suit every level”, Helen Rowbotham, director of innovation at British Rowing

Frances Milner, executive director of philanthropy and partnerships at Cancer Research UK, said: “The Great Row is a challenge like no other and we’re thrilled to bring it back for 2017. So many people got involved last year and discovered a new love for rowing, while raising funds for our vital cancer research.

“Every two minutes someone in the UK is diagnosed with cancer, which is why we need to pull together, get active, commit to a challenge and raise as much money as possible to help bring forward the day that all cancers are cured.”

Helen Rowbotham, director of innovation at British Rowing, said: “We’re delighted that Cancer Research UK are once again encouraging the nation to get involved with indoor rowing to raise money for such an incredibly worthy cause. The Great Row is flexible and includes a challenge to suit every level, whether you’ve never used a rowing machine before or you are in training to win an Olympic medal.

>>> Read about our partnership with CRUK

“Anyone can take part this year and with nine million gym members in the UK (the majority of whom walk past a rowing machine on a regular basis) we’re determined to further open up the sport of rowing and broaden its appeal to include the mass consumer fitness market. Ultimately we’re hoping to double the number of indoor rowers in the UK and this fitness fundraiser is one of the ways in which we can do so.”

This partnership follows the launch of the Go Row Indoor strategy from British Rowing, which addresses barriers to participation and growth and provides a collective voice and profile for the sport of indoor rowing. Current plans for Go Row Indoor in 2017 include new class models for gym and studio, the appointment of Master Trainers, instructor training programmes, the development of online leagues, software partnerships, national and regional events and a consumer awareness campaign.

For more information about The Great Row visit: www.cruk.org/TheGreatRow