Bournemouth University

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It's Row-vember!

30 November 2012

One of the BU Boat Club members taking part in the 48 hour rowing challenge Bournemouth University Boat Club raise money by setting British world record for distance rowed in 48 hours

Members of Bournemouth University Boat Club (BUBC) have set a British record for rowing continuously for 48 hours -and raised more than £1,900 in the process.

Around 40 members of the BU Boat Club took it in turns to row half an hour stints in The Atrium, at Talbot Campus, for 48 hours continuously.

They set the British world record at 680,000 metres, and raised more than £1,900, which will be split between the club and Macmillan Cancer Support.

BUBC secretary Ben Johnson, 22, of Charminster, said: "There currently isn't a British record for a 48 hour continuous team row so we tried to set one that will be difficult for people to beat.

"We are just bringing everyone together to work towards the challenge and everyone wanted to get involved."

The team started at Wednesday midday and the challenge finished at midday on Friday.

Fundraiser for the club Jacob Lee, 19, of Winton, said that the rowers had been dressing up in fancy dress and had been spurred on by support from students walking past.

Jacob, who is from Kent, said: "We wanted to do something that shows what the boat club is about and the physical effort we put in to our training.

"We've had a lot of interest from people coming and supporting us and the causes we are doing it for. A lot of them are amazed by the fact that it is non-stop for 48 hours."

A webcam streamed the rowing for the full 48 hours, and Ben, who is from Birmingham, said they had received more than 1,500 hits and donations from as far afield as Australia and the USA.

The money was raised through online donations and collection boxes.

Jacob said: "We have got a pot of money that we spent on maintenance of the boats and running the club. We have got a really old boat that we would like to replace and we have to do things like that on a regular basis to keep the club going."

You can sponsor the team at www.gofundme.com/BUBCRowvember.

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