Thanks for taking the time to visit our JustGiving page.

At an ungodly hour of the morning of July 29th 2015, myself, Ben Charles, Matthew Bucknall, and Ali Chapman will set off from Lechlade to cover the 150 miles of the Thames to London in an open rowing boat.

Endorsed by British Rowing and our parent club, Agecroft RC, we're aiming to overcome miles, locks, blistered hands, and sore legs and backs to finish as close to Tower Bridge as time, tide, and the Port of London authority will allow. 

We'll be taking nothing with us but a change of kit and your support.

The charity we've chosen to support is Kidney Research UK. Kidney Disease is common in the UK, often remaining undiagnosed and untreated because there are no outward symptoms until the disease is significantly advanced. As a healthy active man, I never thought that I could be a candidate for it until I was diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease and Acute Focal Segmented Glomerulasclerosis following routine blood tests.

Luckily, we are all born with more kidney function than is necessary for survival and medication and treatment are available. I've learned that with the support of family, friends, and the wonderful doctors and nurses of the NHS these things can be managed and moderated.  

All of four of us are undertaking this challenge to show that you don't have to be defined by a disease just because you have it; to show that life is in the living of it, and that challenges like Kidney Disease are things that we can face and overcome together.

In this regard, your support will mean that more is learned about Kidney Disease, about its impacts on the lives of individual sufferers, families, and communities, and that more diagnoses will be made, meaning more treatment and management will occur.

So please chip in. With your support, the miles will go a little easier! 

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.