The Challenge

On Monday 5th September I will be embarking on a journey from Lechlade-on-Thames in the Cotswolds to Tower Bridge in London. The journey spans over 140 miles with 46 locks and a combination of non-tidal and tidal conditions.

Having never rowed before there is plenty of work to do, but fortunately I have partnered up with the amazing Pangbourne College who will be providing me with training, two sculls (single-seater rowing boats) and a support vessel for the duration of the challenge.

We will be raising funds for two charities, Mind and FOPPS (Friends of Pangbourne Primary School). Here is why:

Mind

Mind aims to give help and support to anybody who is suffering from a mental health problem.

It has been incredibly tough couple of years for so many people, with people's mental health being as vulnerable as ever, and with lockdown, the cost of living rising at such a rapid pace, and the current Ukraine crisis, it is likely that even more people will be struggling to stay positive.

In addition to the above, suicide is the biggest killer of men under 45 in the UK and I personally sit in that age bracket. Mental health is still a neglected topic for so many men and the more that can be done to break the stigma the better.

FOPPS

We have worked closely with FOPPS (Friends of Pangbourne Primary School) for around one year now. It is important for every child to have the best possible start and FOPPS work hard to ensure that Pangbourne Primary School can provide this for their pupils.

Having worked with FOPPS on their Fireworks and 10k run events, I can see that they are passionate about their fundraising goals and I am delighted to help with achieving their targets.

The Goal

We appreciate that everybody has different circumstances, but every little contribution helps to make an important impact. If you are able to make a donation I am extremely thankful.

Follow the journey

The journey starts now and I will be documenting everything from my training, diet and the challenge itself on my Instagram below. By following you will meet the people helping me along the way and will witness the highs and lows of the challenge!

Instagram - @tomgwaltham