Paul Jackson, Zach Ward, Matt Parkes, Rob Masters, Brendan Boddy and Ross Chapman – aka the Blades Crew – are once again hitting the water in an attempt to raise £4,000 to support people undergoing chemotherapy by rowing 21.6 miles along the River Thames next month.
It’s the second year in a row for the intrepid team, which took part in the Great London River Race last year. The six-man team, which includes four members of the team rowing, a cox and a rolling substitute, will be competing against 400 other boats on 20 September, taking part in a Seine boat which are traditionally river Teign fishing boats. The team’s boats are kept in Dartmouth and they train on the River Dart.
The team is raising funds for the Ricky Grant Day Unit, at Torbay Hospital which provides chemotherapy and associated treatments, plus education and advice for those living with cancer.
The cause is particularly pertinent to Paul, one of the Blades crew, who received treatment at the unit and wanted to do something as a thank you.
Paul said: “I was sitting in the Ricky Grant Day Unit waiting for treatment reading about the various charity fundraising events that were taking place. This inspired me to think I should do something to support the unit and give something back in thanks for the care and treatment I received.”
All the funds raised will help to fund additional support and equipment on the unit, funding specialist chemotherapy chairs and equipment such as scalp cooling machines which help to reduce hair loss for patients receiving chemotherapy. The Ricky Grant Day Unit charitable fund, set up to support patients, is part of the Torbay and South Devon NHS Charity.
To find out more, or to support the Blades Crew, please see their JustGiving page.
Torbay and South Devon NHS Charity is the NHS charity making things better for our local hospitals and for our community. Funding the big and little things that make a difference to our patients, their families and the staff that treat them.