Gus Mckechnie and a team of rowers row 72 miles around the Isle of Wight
Southampton student Gus Mckechnie lead a team of rowers on this epic thirteen hour journey from Warsash clock-wise around the Island on July 21st. Gus spent the whole thirteen hours in the boat while the rest of the crew were swapped after about four hours rowing. The challenge which was taken on on behalf of Lisa’s Charity, the Sir Steve Redgrave Trust, the Haemochromatosis Society and the UK Adaptive Rowing Squad. Gus has helped with lots of different fund raising events for the Lisa Wilson Scholarship Fund and this was the first of a three part challenge for which he hopes to raise £10,000 giving each of the charities 25% of the proceeds. The next event will be a sponsored cycle ride from Southampton Football Club to Dorchester football club, this will be followed by the Boston rowing marathon on September 24th.
Gus lost his brother Andrew two years ago to Haemochromatosis and has the disease himself; he hopes these three tough challenges will bring awareness to people about the disease which can lead to organ failure. The crews of four and two coxes started the challenge at 7.45am, the first crew change came at Sandown when three rowers were swopped for the long row down the back of the Island. About thirty minutes from the Needles in what was becoming quite a swell another crew change saw three lady rowers and a new cox get on board with a somewhat shattered looking Gus. The girls, who included two partially sighted rowers Katie Dunlevy and Caroline Munday-Cox, rowed the boat home to Warsash for the final leg arriving at 8.45pm. Both girls have been chosen to row for Great Britain in Japan in the World Championships – rowing has just been introduced as a Paraplympic sport and the girls and Gus wanted to raise money and awareness for the sport.
Anyone wishing to donate to this fund can do so on line by going to www.justgiving.com/sotonrowchallenge
