Friends from a Telford rowing group will row 7 marathons in 7 days to raise money for Severn Hospice and the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
Martin Skehan, Dave Williams, Rob Sowdon and Richard Greaves set off on their 7-in-7 Rowathon on Sunday, May 11, when each man will aim to row 42,195 meters a day – a total of 295,365 meters each over the week.
Likely to take more than four hours a day, the gruelling challenge is to be held at four different locations – at the HQ of award-winning Telford construction company McPhillips.
The quartet have rowed together for many years at Gym Mostyn based at Wrekin College, which is how they know McPhillips’ Contracts Director Andrew Dunham who offered up the firm’s Hortonwood training centre as a venue.
Martin Skehan said: “We were struggling to find locations, and moving our equipment every day was a nuisance, so being at McPhillips for four days is fantastic – we’ll be able to simply focus on the rowing!”
Andrew Dunham, from McPhillips, said: “This will be a real test of endurance for the guys but it’s for two incredible charities – and I know that they’re up to it!
“When I heard that venues were proving a problem, I was more than happy to accommodate them and their machines at our McPhillips training centre, where for four days they can leave behind the hassle of moving everything, and just get on with the job in hand.”
Martin is one of the four Wrekin Rowers who crossed the Atlantic, completing the Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge in January 2021. Sadly, crew member Gary Richards died a year later, and in his final days was cared for by Severn Hospice.
Martin said: “I have personal connections to the MND Association and was inspired to do the 7-in-7 Rowathon thanks to the amazing 7 marathons in 7 days by rugby star Kevin Sinfield in support of his close friend Rob Burrow.
“MND affects up to 5,000 people in the UK at any one time, and care for patients in the community varies. A friend of ours was recently supported by the Severn Hospice and the work they do is amazing, particularly in the latter stages of the disease. On a national scale, the Motor Neurone Disease Association plays a hugely important role for sufferers and their families while progressing research and awareness.”
Well-wishers are invited to go along and support from 10am on the following days:
- Sunday, May 11 – Southwater, Telford
- Friday, May 16 – The Square, Shrewsbury
- Saturday, May 17 – Town Square, Wellington
A Give as you Live fundraising page has been set up for donations, at: https://donate.giveasyoulive.com/fundraising/7-in-7-rowathon-week
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