Land’s End rowers attempt to ‘make change’ in MND fight

A rowing crew attempting a 900-mile (1,448 km) from Land’s End to John O’ Groats say they are aiming to break rowing and fundraising records.

The four-strong team from Row 4 MND were set to take off from Cornwall at about 08:30 BST and expect to reach John O’ Groats in Scotland via the Irish Sea about 21 days later.

The row is the first of four the team plan to do over the next four years and they hope to raise £57m for research into Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

Team member Matt Parker, from Glasgow, said: “It’s just not fair that diagnosis of MND results in a life without hope, it’s time for us to take responsibility and to make that change.”

The team said it would be a “very technically and physically challenging row, particularly taking into account the dangerous waters and tides around the UK”.

The mixed crew also includes two former commandos – British Atlantic record-holder Mike Bates, from Leeds, and world-record holder Aaron Kneebone, from Dorset, as well as three times round-the-world sailor Liz Wardley.

They plan to complete an unsupported circumnavigation of the UK next year, going from Scotland to Cornwall via the North Sea, before California to Hawaii and New York to London routes in subsequent years, with the latter being a world record attempt.

Mr Parker said he was inspired to raise money when a close friend lost his wife to MND seven years ago.

He said the deaths of rugby players Rob Burrow and Doddie Wier from the disease had also spurred them on.