<p><span class="542421114-04052011">I am organising a fundraising event for the AHOY Centre based in South East London. &nbsp;The AHOY Centre organises sailing and water-based activities for local disabled and disadvantaged people, particularly children. The centre teaches young and old alike not only to sail or row, but&nbsp;provides life-skills and experiences, as well as&nbsp;performing&nbsp;the&nbsp;role&nbsp;of a much-needed medium of social and community integration in a deprived area.</span></p> <p><span class="542421114-04052011">T</span>his July, after 12 weeks of&nbsp;<span class="542421114-04052011">gym and river </span>training,&nbsp;<span class="542421114-04052011">two teams of&nbsp;7 from my local squash/tennis club in Beckenham - one with guys and one with girls...not a race (haha!) - </span>will be rowing from Dover to Calais across the English Channel in&nbsp;<span class="542421114-04052011">two </span>6-man boat<span class="542421114-04052011">s</span> we've named "The Oarient Express"<span class="542421114-04052011"> and 'Channel No 7'. The girls have the added distinction (we believe) of being </span>the first female-only crew to row a 'Thames Waterman Cutter' from England to France. It's approximately 24 miles&nbsp;to row&nbsp;and the current record is 3 hours which we intend to have a jolly good crack at<span class="542421114-04052011">- with a bit of healthy competition between the two teams we may well do it! </span>.</p> <p><span class="542421114-04052011">The two teams are aiming to raise </span>&pound;12,000 in total<span class="542421114-04052011">.</span></p> <p>Please make sure you GiftAid any donation you would like to make so that we get the tax.</p>