Ben visits the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association head office to learn about an amazing charity rowing challenge. He is joined by Matt Sirrell, Managing Director at MSL Logistics, and Steph White, Community Fundraising Area Manager East at the MND Association.
On the 12th December, Matt and his three teammates will be rowing 3000 miles across the Atlantic. This challenge will raise money to support the MND Association. They will race against dozens of teams in the World’s Toughest Row over about 40 days.
A post-COVID midlife crisis
Matt jokingly says his reason for undertaking the challenge was because of a midlife crisis. He discovered the race on a visit to Antigua. Despite never having rowed before, him and his friends agreed to partake, and they have since been training for years to prepare.
As well as training his body, Matt emphasises the importance of training his mind and adapting to boredom. His gruelling exercise regime, coached by Jack Fleckney, is preparing him for the extremely difficult and arduous challenge.
“I’ve got to do something about this”
Matt decided to support the MND Association because the cause means a lot to him. Seeing his sporting hero, Rob Burrow, suffer from the disease powerfully affected him. Matt then decided that he wanted to do something to help support those with MND.
Steph has worked at the MND Association for nearly 11 years and is amazed at this unique fundraising challenge. She says the proposed target of raising £250,000 would make a massive difference to the association. The money could help fund a project, research, care centre, equipment and more.
Up to 5,000 people are living with motor neurone disease in the UK at any time. The MND Association is currently in touch with 473 people in the eastern region. This charity does invaluable work for those affected by motor neurone disease and appreciates any donations or fundraising efforts.
You can support Matt’s fundraising project on his donation page.
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