Harper Adams rowing club completes virtual challenge but still needs help to reach fundraising goal

The Harper Adams University Rowing Club has been raising money for NHS Charities Together by virtually travelling 8,074km (5,017 miles) around Great Britain's coastline roads.

To cover the distance, a team of 30 past and present club members have been running, walking, swimming, cycling, horse riding, and of course rowing, across a period of eight weeks.

The team has just completed the challenge and even travelled a further 734km (457 miles) to arrive (virtually) at Harper Adams University. Despite their fantastic efforts to virtually travel around the island, they still require support to reach their fundraising goal. £450 has currently been donated and the team is hoping to raise £1,000 for NHS Charities Together.

Peter Reis from the club said: “The idea to originally do something started as an executive group decision. We hoped to help keep up mental and physical fitness for club members during the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown. The idea of going around Great Britain came from Eloise Davies, our Women’s Captain 2020/21.

“We saw it as a great opportunity to also raise money for NHS Charities Together.

“Overall, we have done really well. We have also been having group catch-ups on Zoom to share a drink and keep up moral.

“Something that has been challenging is the daily seven kilometres. As a target, we all had to do 40 kilometres a week, which when running can be a stretch if you've got other work to do. It’s useful to go out for long cycles to rack-up the distance. Holly Culver (Women’s VC) has totted-up an impressive 200 kilometres in just one week.

“The challenge has given us all something to do during the lockdown and motivation to get outside, which is what it’s all about. It’s also been a welcome respite from university work.”

On why the team decided to raise money for NHS Charities Together, Eloise on the team’s donation page said:

“We are all in awe of the dedication and hard work of our NHS members in these incredibly hard and uncertain times, and we as a club want to raise money to help them.”

If you wish to donate to the team, so that they can reach their fundraising donation, please visit their JustGiving page here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/haurc?fbclid=IwAR1-n2iYY3KsivrISJ3YXrwzjybKyGITLRFbFtFfZZCRnW_Oj422oK_umh0