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USSA-R 24 Hour Indoor Rowing Fundraising Challenge

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In order to compete in the prestigious annual South African Universities Boatrace being held in Port Alfred, rowers from NMMU have to provide or raise funds on their own behalf to meet the various costs.

Boat Race is from the 9th to the 12th of September on the Kowie River where rowers compete on a 4.2km course for the Ladies and a 6.5km course for the Men.

The cost of transport, accommodation and food leaves student athletes in a tight financial situation with many giving up training time for  part time jobs to raise funds for the trip.

With outside assistance and sponsorship the rowers can focus solely on training.

Rowers from NMMU have been attending this prestigious event since its inception and rely on help from parents and sponsors to attend once again.

The 24 Hour Indoor Rowing Fundraising Challenge will take place at Old Grey from Sunday 9 August to Monday 10 August.

18 rowers are expected to participate by rowing one machine continuously for 24 hours whilst 3 extra ergo machine’s will be made available for rowers and sponsors to take part in sprint races during the event. Each rower will row a minimum of 60 minutes over the entire challenge in 10 and 20 minute intervals and there is no maximum time.

As this is a university event, promoted from the USSA-R (University Sport South Africa – Rowing) Committee all rowing universities are expected to hold similar events in their home towns as well.

The NMMU rowers have set a target of reaching 350 km over the 24 hour period and invite the public to visit them at Old Grey on Saturday and Sunday to take part in the fun, challenge a rower to a sprint on an ergo machine or just enjoy a cold beer whilst leaving a few pennies to assist dedicated, determined students.

The rowers are offering a number of sponsorship opportunities:

  1. Ergo Machine sponsorship – Our challenge is to reach 350km. You as the sponsor may determine the donation per kilometre. We request that you set a limit on the amount to which you are prepared to donate. This is to ensure that  when  we  exceed  the  amount  of  meters  we  intend  to  achieve,  your donation does not exceed your expectations. The sponsor will be allowed to brand part of the machine and the area near the machine as they see fit. An exclusive machine sponsorship fee of R500 can be paid to ensure no other brands but yours are on or around the 24 hour machine.
  2. Per interval sponsorship – Our rowers will take up many time slots throughout the event to try and rack up as many kilometres as they can. We expect each rower to achieve 20km and you can sponsor a specific rower by donating an amount per kilometre that they end up achieving. Once again, we request that you set a limit on the amount to which you are prepared to donate. This is to ensure that  when  we  exceed  the  amount  of  meters  we  intend  to  achieve,  your donation does not exceed your expectations.

Sponsors will be able to advertise at the event if they wish to do so. Sponsors will be thanked on the Rowing Social Media and Official NMMU Rowing Website. Sponsors will also receive a signed photo of the rowing crew’s that will participate in the Boatrace.

Contact Brittany Straton (084 831 5101) or Annemie Kellermann (076 904 1957) from the NMMURC Fundraising Committee for more information.

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.