Rowers raise £4,000 for new training facilities

The event aimed to raise £4,155 for the club’s Pavilion Fund which will create new training facilities to bring sport to more people in the Stratford area. The final distance rowed was a combined 1,328km.

Chairman Stephen Haighton said: ”We owe a massive ‘thank you’ to each and everyone who took part in the sponsored 24-hour ergothon to raise money for the club re-development.

“Whether people were rowing on the ergo machine or helping out, the support and the response was quite overwhelming and I am pleased to say this was achieved through hard work, dedication, persistence, sweat and blisters…and of course teamwork at its best!

"This puts us within striking distance of appeal figure for the refurbishment: we just need a few more thousands to reach our target.”

Club treasurer Paul Hazelwood added: “The aim of this event was to generate the maximum amount of funds for our new Pavilion which will house the new indoor training room to extend the facilities considerably for the present and future generations of Stratford Boat Club members.

“This will also allow us to use the clubhouse in a much more sociable way and to increase the sense of community in the club and local area.”

Glyn Hawkins, lead committee member for the refurbishment project, said: “We are tantalisingly close to achieving our fundraising total to pay for the improvements. Whilst the ergothon has shown what the club members can do within the club, we need the final last piece of the jigsaw and help from local companies and organisations in the region.”

The club hopes the main work for the boathouse refurbishment, which will cost £270,000, will begin next month.