Rowing the Mississippi for a Million

On Saturday 22 March HTBS's friend Chris Partridge of the great rowing blog Rowing For Pleasure wrote about John Pritchard, Old Cambridge Blue and 1980 Olympic silver medallist in the eights. Pritchard has decided to scull in a Victorian skiff the entire length of the Mississippi. He will start on 2 August and it will take him at least three months to scull the 2,320 miles. Around 60 people will join him during certain legs. His 'outing', Mississippi Million, is a charity row for Right To Play, which is a global organization that, it says on its website, 'uses the transformative power of play - playing sports, playing games - to educate and empower children facing adversity. We reach one million children in regular weekly activities, and have a direct impact on the development of critical life skills that affect positive and sustainable change.'

With his row, Pritchard is hoping to raise $1 million.

Read Chris P.'s blog post here.

Go to the website Mississippi Million here (with video).

Go to Right To Play here.

Pritchard rowed for Cambridge in three Boat Races, in 1984, 1985 and 1986. The 1984 race became famous as Cambridge hit a moored barge and started to sink, with Pritchard in sixth seat - read more on that race here. He stroked the Light Blues both in 1985 and 1986, the last year to victory.

This blog post was updated at 9:25 a.m. on 26 March to reflect what is mentioned in Comment No. 1. G.R.B.

Trying to Break the British Indoor Record

Portsmouth University Rowing Club will be attempting to set a new British record for the furthest distance rowed continuously by a team in 48 hours on a Concept 2 today, 1 March. That is to break the British record and row over 685,000 metres! The club is now in its 5th year, and from the success of the GB rowers at the 2012 Olympic London Games, the club now has over 130 members. Earlier this year, the club has attended several indoor and on the water events. Back in December, the club won 8 medals at the university regional indoor rowing series.

All money raised at this event will go towards Help for Heroes and Teenage Cancer Trust, two great charities which will get an even split of the money raised. Portsmouth University RC is now asking everyone to help support this event by giving generously. Any amount of sponsorship will be greatly appreciated, the club writes.

Starting at 6pm on 1 March you can check out the rowers live at:

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/uprc-48hr-charity-row 

Through Virgin Money Giving, you can sponsor the rowers and donations will be quickly processed and passed on to charities. Virgin Money Giving is a no-profit organisation and will claim gift aid on a charity’s behalf where the donor is eligible for this.

To donate, go here.