Paul Jackson, Zach Ward, Matt Parkes, Rob Masters, Brendan Boddy and Ross Chapman – aka the Blades Crew – are aiming to raise £2,500 to support people undergoing chemotherapy by rowing 21.6 miles along the River Thames in the Great River Race on Saturday 21 September.
The six-man team, which includes four members of the team rowing, a cox and a rolling substitute, will be competing against 400 other boats in their Seine boat, which is a traditional River Teign fishing boat. The team’s boats are kept in Dartmouth and they train on the River Dart.
The team is raising funds for the Ricky Grant day unit, the oncology day centre at Torbay Hospital which provides chemotherapy and associated treatments, plus education and advice for those living with cancer.
The cause is particularly pertinent to Paul Jackson, who has been living with cancer for a number of years and is receiving treatment at the unit. Paul decided to raise funds to give something back as a thank you for the amazing care he gets from the unit.
He said: “I was sitting in the Ricky Grant day unit waiting for treatment reading about the various charity fundraising events that were taking place. This inspired me to think I should do something to support the unit and give something back in thanks for the care and treatment I receive every two weeks.”
All the funds raised will help to fund additional support and equipment on the Unit, funding specialist chemotherapy chairs and equipment such as scalp cooling machines which help to reduce hair loss for patients receiving chemotherapy. The Ricky Grant day unit charitable fund, set up to support patients, is part of the Torbay and South Devon NHS Charity.
Torbay and South Devon NHS Charity fundraising manager Rachael Bryett said: ‘We are so grateful to Paul and the Blades Crew for their brilliant support of the charity and for what they are doing to help our dedicated team on Ricky Grant go over and above for their patients.’
To find out more, or to support the Blades Crew, please visit www.justgiving.com/page/paul-jackson-1725183663533
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