Over the weekend of 22-23 September, I will be joining the Lady Eleanor Holles and Hampton School rowing squads, along with a number of their parents, to row down the Thames from Radley near Oxford to the Millennium Boathouse in Hampton - 120+ rowers in 20+ boats covering 80 miles, including 28 locks.

This is a real challenge and particularly daunting for the parent novices, like me who only got into a proper rowing boat for the first time this summer. Having been infected by my daughter's enthusiasm for rowing I'm now finding out how hard it is first-hand!

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 Shooting Star Chase and the incredible work they do, please visit their website  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.