I returned to rowing and coaching a couple of years ago and joined Lea rowing club in Clapton. The club is (nowadays) friendly, encourages many to take up the sport, has a thriving junior section (who enjoy beating public school kids at regattas and heads) and is at the centre of the community. 

Unfortunately the future of the club is under threat.

The site of Lea RC’s boathouse is leased from the London Borough of Hackney – a lease which is due to expire in the next few years. We have an opportunity RIGHT NOW to secure the lease for the next 99 years, and for the next generation of rowers, by demonstrating that we can (and will) redevelop the club facility to a better standard which ensures greater community use and flexibility of use, but crucially for us, without affecting the success and enjoyment of the current membership. Due to the hard work of some committee members we now have a plan of how to do this which Hackney is in agreement with.

All we need to do now is raise the money to support our proposals. And that’s where YOU come in!

We need to raise £960k in the next 12 months (in addition to the £145k raised to date) in order to meet our side of the bargain and secure the lease. 

3 days, 2 boats, arriving in Henley while Henley Royal is in full swing 4th July
The Lea are planning an ambitious row from our boathouse in Clapton over the course of three days to arrive at Henley on Thames. Over 100km will take our boats through plenty of locks, through central London battling tides, past Twickenham, Hampton Court , through Maidenhead arriving at Henley Royal Regatta the morning 4th July, to paddle triumphantly down the course! (Hopefully with a Jug of Pimms waiting for us at the finish!)
Do look at our planned route if wish to see just how far it is;

https://mapsengine.google.com/map/edit?mid=zhtN8Wc_wHNs.k2oH1JSHy5Jw

I am rowing the tidal bit on the Wednesday so do wave as we go past if you work in central London - We'll be wearing orange.

Although the Lea RC is set to become a charity in its own right, there is still a bit of red-tape to get through…so at the moment, we are raising money for the charity Youth Experience in Sport, which give all funds to the redevelopment of the LEA RC.
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