On Thursday 23rd June Sir Trevor McDonald will join GB Olympic rowers and other sporting personalities on City Hall’s top floor, to watch teams from the City’s biggest firms compete in fundraising challenge 'Row Hard for Neuro-disability', sponsored by Stanford Resourcing.
 
Recently awarded a BAFTA fellowship, Sir Trevor McDonald OBE will open the event and GB rowing Olympians will show competitors how it’s done before the 40 teams battle it out on rowing machines, pushing for the fastest time in a 2000m relay.
 
Sir Trevor McDonald says: “What a privilege it is to be involved in this year’s Row Hard. I have worked with the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability for some time now so I know all about the charity’s remarkable work. It will be a brilliant night and all for a great cause.”
 
Now in its second year, Row Hard is raising vital funds for the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability. Attending on the night, Louisa Reeve, GB Women’s Rowing Olympian, says:
 
“Last year's competition was a huge success and loads of fun. This year is set to be even bigger and better - a perfect opportunity for a fun evening combined with fundraising for a very worthwhile charity.”
 
Louisa will be joined by other members of the GB Olympic Rowing team, including Debbie Flood, Hester Goodsell, Charles Cousins, Tash Page, Cam Nicholl and Adam Freeman-Pask, to name just a few.
 
Also attending, sports personality and former England and Wasps RFU player Phil Greening said of the competition:
 
“I'm really excited to be part of 'Row Hard for Neuro-disability'. As a rugby player I see how knocks and falls, in particular head injuries, can affect someone. The RHN is a fantastic organisation caring for people with all sorts of brain injuries. If you fancy a fun night out in aid of a great cause, come and join us on 23 June.”
 
The fundraising target is £25,000, and money raised will be used to help pay for assistive technology, giving patients and residents the crucial gift of communication, often lost after a serious trauma to the brain. This may include, for example, specialist eyegaze technology which allows those who cannot move the ability to speak through a computer simply by using their eyes.
 
This year, Stanford Resourcing is sponsoring the event and Mark Gibbard-Jones, Managing Director says:
 
“We are proud to sponsor the 2011 Row Hard event that will doubtless prove to build upon the success of last year and become a permanent fixture in the City sporting calendar!”
 
If you fancy a challenge and would like to register a team, visit www.rhnrowhard.org.uk  it is just £100 for a team of four (including food and drink). Alternatively, if you prefer to cheer with the celebrities, the cost is just £20 per person and includes food and an alcoholic drink – please call Anna Wall-Budden on 020 8780 4565 to reserve your place!

June 14, 2011