We're here again. Second year in a row (pics and vid of last year's Boat Race attached) and the cousins are limbering up, stretching off their summer-indulgences and getting ready to take part in the Dragon Boat Race 2025.

Gympanzees needs our help to raise the remaining £2.5 million by next summer in order to open the UK's first fully accessible exercise, play, and social centre for disabled children and young people.

They won't be able to open until they've raised all of the £8 million required to complete the renovations and equip the centre, ready to open in Summer 2026.

It's a tall order but we know they can do it. There is no shortage of energy, grit and determination in the Gympanzees team, and we are going to try to reflect that in our efforts on the water.

Please read the information below (and on the website https://www.gympanzees.org) and dig as deep as you are able. It really will help us to row that little bit harder and really try to beat the rest of the pack to glory! Competitive? Us?

Thank you for your support.

Emma, Steph, Sarah, Vey, Camilla, Charles, Nick, Tom, Andrew, Lissa

Gympanzees was established with a sole mission: to enable every child and young person with a disability to access regular play, exercise and friendship, to improve their physical and mental health and well-being, and to take their families out of isolation. They have fundraised for and secured their first building, in Bristol, the UK's first fully accessible exercise, play, and social centre for disabled children and young people.

#ProjectHomeAppeal. And this is where we (and lots of others) come in.

A few stats to inspire your donation:

- 77% of disabled children in the UK can’t access regular leisure facilities.

- 92% of parents feel that their child with complex needs does not have the same opportunities to play as their non-disabled peers.

- 72% of parents with a disabled child suffer mental health issues as a result of isolation.

- 65% of families with disabled children report feeling isolated frequently or all of the time.

- Almost 9 out of 10 parents report some level of anxiety.

- Disabled children are twice as likely to be lonely compared to their non-disabled peers (72% vs 36%). They are more likely to feel they have no one to talk to, to feel left out, and to feel alone.

The Gympanzees Centre will host 200,000 visits from disabled children, young people and their families every year. It will be open 364 days, 7 days a week and will provide endless opportunities for health, happiness and support.