Rowers mistaken as migrants, including an MP, complete initial leg of their charitable voyage
The Row4MND team, consisting of Aaron Kneebone, Liz Wardley, Mike Bates, and Matt Parker, have arrived at the Forth Bridge near Edinburgh after completing the first leg of their epic four-year, four-row challenge. The team departed from Land's End in Cornwall on July 25 and have covered approximately 900 miles, burning a staggering 450,000 calories.
The team's objectives include raising £57 million for MND research and building awareness about the disease. This ambitious fundraising target has been inspired by rugby legends Rob Burrow and Doddie Weir, both of whom are battling motor neurone disease (MND). After completing the first leg, the Row4MND team has already raised more than £135,000.
The first leg of the Row4MND challenge was a clockwise row around the UK coastline, which was completed on August 15 after about 21 days at sea. The team faced difficult conditions, including sleep deprivation, physical exhaustion, and unexpected obstacles like Storm Floris. However, they persevered and successfully finished this initial phase of their unprecedented endurance rowing challenge.
During their journey, the team was mistaken for a migrant dinghy by Norfolk MP Rupert Lowe. Mr. Lowe posted about the incident on August 7, but acknowledged his mistake in a post the following day. The incident brought additional donations to the team, including £1,000 from Mr. Lowe himself.
The Row4MND team plans to continue their circumnavigation next year with the second half, followed by a trans-Pacific row from California to Hawaii in 2027 and a world-record attempt row from New York to London in 2028.
Representatives from the Motor Neurone Disease Association, the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation, and the Leeds Hospitals Charity welcomed the Row4MND team to shore. Paul Thompson, director of fundraising at the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation, called the team's achievement "incredible".
More information about the Row4MND project and donation options can be found at https://www.row4mnd.com/. The team's determination and resilience serve as a testament to their commitment to raising funds and awareness for MND. Their journey continues, and we eagerly await their future accomplishments.
The Row4MND team, although exclusively focused on rowing and raising funds for MND research, also expresses an interest in basketball, as they aspire to watch NBA games during their trans-Pacific row from California to Hawaii in 2027. On their down time, Aaron Kneebone, Liz Wardley, Mike Bates, and Matt Parker might find themselves discussing WNBA basketball strategy, considering the inspiring performances of motor neurone disease (MND) fighters like Lauren Jackson and Maya Moore.
