Whilst on the banks of the Thames earlier this year, we heard about a great challenge for a very worthy cause and decided that it was time, after over 25 years, to pick up an oar and rise to the old boatie adage "No pain, No gain".  

So, over the weekend of 22-23 September, we will be joining the LEH and Hampton School rowing squads, along with a number of their parents, to row down the Thames from Oxford to  Hampton - where we will be part of a flotilla of  20+ boats covering 80 miles, including 28 locks. Emma will also be rowing.

This will be a real challenge and certainly a couple of long days on the water. As I haven't rowed since university and Katharine rowed for less than a term, we have been refreshing our rowing skills through a number of evening practice rows with other parents under the excellent tutelage of the School rowing coaches. 

We're aiming to raise enough to pay for a care nurse for an entire year for our local charity Shooting Star Chase, which provides invaluable hospice care for babies and children with life-limiting conditions.  For more about the incredible work they do please visit http://www.shootingstarchase.org.uk 

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.