Another year, another BIG fundraising event. And this year, it’s bigger and better than ever.
We’re taking on ‘The Ma’ROW’thon’, a 26.2 mile rowing challenge (yep, that’s a full marathon) to raise money for the brilliant Norwich City Community Sports Foundation.
What is ‘The Ma’ROW’thon’?
Think marathon, but in a boat and on water. With the help of our friends at Norfolk Yacht Agency and Whitlingham Adventure, we have a trusty katakanu in which eight brave members of our team will be rowing for 26.2 miles along the Norfolk Broads, from Brundall to Norwich and back again. We’ll be cheered on by our support boat, stocked with snacks and good tunes to keep us motivated throughout the challenge.
Why are we doing it?
This year’s chosen charity is close to our hearts. We’re raising money for Norwich City Community Sports Foundation (NCCSF), a charity that is funded completely by fundraising events and that’s all about empowering people through sport. They create safe spaces to support and inspire people, and run a variety of community and inclusion based projects.
All donations will go towards The Nest, the Foundation’s community hub. It is a space with sports facilities, a cafe and meeting rooms, where vital projects come to life.
Said projects include:
- Duncans Club, a support programme for people with dementia.
- Pan-Disability Football, sessions for people with differing impairments to improve footballing skills whilst boosting social skills.
- Coffee and Comrades, these coffee mornings offer an opportunity for veterans and serving personnel to meet up.
- And many more.
Meet Hope
We mentioned that this charity is close to our hearts, it’s particularly special to our Director and Head of Digital, Emily.
The NCCSF runs a programme called Realising Potential, which aims to help children and adults with physical or learning disabilities realise their true potential through sports, activities and workshops. It provides them with 1-2-1 support and increases their chances of employment with sessions on CV writing, interview techniques, and other essential skills. It also helps develop social confidence through multi-sports, dance and other active sessions, plus much more.
Enter Hope – a witty, sassy, extremely humorous 19 year old who could talk your ear off about the two most important things in her life: Norwich City Football Club and her nieces and nephews. Hope is a long-term participant in the Realising Potential programme and is part of the Ambassadors Scheme. First enrolling at seven years old, she was an extremely shy and quiet child who wasn’t very forthcoming about what she wanted.
Through the patience, dedication and care provided by the team who run the programme, she’s been given opportunities to discover what she’s passionate about, build her confidence, and make lifelong friends. Today, Hope takes part in a variety of clubs and charity events, as well as volunteering to lead groups at the Mini Kickers and Sporty Tots clubs at The Nest. Recently, Hope accepted an internship to become a coach herself, she is one of the first young adults to be offered this opportunity through the programme. The programme has allowed her to pursue a purpose that motivates her and provides her with joy. In the words of Hope, “I just like being here because it just brings me happiness.”
Having been a part of Hope’s life for over 12 years, Emily sees first-hand where the NCCSF and fundraising money makes an astronomical difference to someone’s life. A charity that does an incredible amount to add value to people’s lives, it was a no-brainer for us to get behind it.
You can find out more about Hope’s story below:
Support our rowers.
This may just be our toughest challenge yet, so your support will mean the world to our team of eight. Here’s how to get involved:
- Support the cause.
All donations will go directly to the Norwich City Community Sports Foundation, helping them deliver life-changing programmes for people in our community. To donate, visit our Just Giving page here.
- Support the rowers.
Moral support is just as important as money (almost). If you’re local, head down to the river and give us a wave. Top cheering spots include The Red Lion Bishopgate, The Compleat Angler, and The Ribs of Beef. Grab a pint, enjoy the view, and give us your best cheer as we row past.
Event Details:
Date: Friday, September 19th
Route: Starting at Norfolk Yacht Agency in Brundall, rowing along the River Yare into Norwich City Centre, and back.
The time we will be rowing through Norwich City Centre is tbc.
Donation Link: Visit the Ma’Row’thon Just Giving Page.
Oar you ready to support us? We’ll keep paddling. You keep donating. And together, we can support an amazing community cause.