News
Row the Atlantic
From Monday 8 June, the Allwright family, including Valley Park students Leo (year 10), Mathew (year 13) and Hannah (former student) are challenging themselves to ‘Row the Atlantic’ in support of the Emergency Funding Campaign for Developing World Seafarers and their Families impacted by COVID 19.
“This group of frontline key-workers have often been forgotten and many are either in lockdown, unable to reunite with families, unable to work, stranded on vessels or even ostracised from their homes due to fear of the virus in the Philippines, India and across the developing world,” said Gavin Allwright. “We are supporting the Seafarers’ Emergency Fund, run by ISWAN, the International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network, a UK registered charity, who have agreed to ringfence all the money raised and guarantee 100% will go to the seafarers themselves, they will cover all administration costs.”
Their challenge is to row the 3,400kms from Penzance, Cornwall to St Johns, Canada from their garden on a home rowing machine. “It’ll take about 8 weeks to complete the voyage,” said Gavin. “Me, my wife and our three kids will all be rowing everyday. We have a series of benchmark points: the Isles of Scilly, Iceland, Greenland, the Titanic site, the North Atlantic garbage gyre etc, which we will also use to talk about seafarers, shipping, environmental and ocean issues along the way.”
They aim to keep their challenge fun by releasing a short video every few days. “There may be some fancy dress!” said Gavin.
Follow their progress on Twitter by searching #Row4Seafarers. Their donation website can be found here.
If you want to support the Allwrights, you can. “If you’re a home rower or home rider and fancy a challenge, raise your own sponsorship, set up a webpage or simply send updates to us and put your donations on our donations page,” Gavin said. “Spread the word on social media, but remember to use the hashtag #Row4Seafarers. Finally, donate – even the smallest amount will be a great boost for these seafarers and their families during a time of great need! You can sponsor us by the km, by the mile or with a lump sum; all donations are welcome!”