Row for Rhinos – 24 Hour Rowathon – New Guinness World Record Attempts
What started more than 3 years ago during lockdown with Sharon Jessop running 102 consecutive half marathons for a new Guinness World Record have grown into something much bigger.
March 2023 saw a group of 16 cyclists from all over South Africa “Ride Wild for Rhinos” from the Paxton Hotel in Gqeberha and cycle to Cape Town over 7 days, and then most of them participated in the Cape Town Cycle Tour.
Now the #makeyourmilesmatter campaigns are extended even further and incorporating yet another sporting discipline – indoor rowing! But the teams are not simply rowing, the two teams are each aiming to set new Guinness World Records in their respective categories.
On the 4th & 5th of August two mixed teams of rowers, one team being an all sixty-plus age category, will be rowing for 24 hours in 30 minute shifts to set the two new Guinness World Records. This will all happen at the Atrium inside the Boardwalk Mall, Gqeberha and the rowing kicks off at 3pm on Friday the 4th of August.
The Redhouse Rowing Club, Grey High School Rowing team and a bunch of enthusiastic rhino warriors have all committed to not only stay awake and row for 24 hours, but also to raise funds for the Community Conservation Fund Africa (CCFA), a local non-profit organization operating at the intersection between conservation, ecotourism, and community as both a fundraising and grant-giving organization, active in educating and empowering local communities in conservation areas.
A large portion of the funds raised before, during and after the 24-hour Rowathon will benefit the CCFA’s rhino legacy project that will happen at Nyosi Wildlife Reserve (formerly Hopewell), a peri-urban reserve a mere 15 – 20 minutes’ drive from the Gqeberha CBD. Nyosi Reserve specialize in day safari experiences and will ultimately play an incredibly important role in educating people about wildlife and conservation.
The two days of indoor rowing and record attempts will be action packed and fun as there will also be many activities for the supporters and general public. Members of the public can participate in rowing varying distances on the indoor rowing machines to try and understand what the participants are experiencing. There will be games and raffles of amazing prizes such as weekends away, and all the proceeds of the games and raffles will also be donated to the teams’ fundraising efforts. So do come down to the Boardwalk Mall on Friday the 4th and Saturday the 5th of August to support these brave souls in their quest to contribute to rhino conservation.
The Row for Rhinos team is appealing to members of the public and to corporate organisations to dig deep and donate towards this effort and they can do so by simply clicking on a live link: https://sportforlives.org/campaigns/row-for-lives-row-for-rhinos-24-hour-rowathon/
Local businesses and corporate organizations will be eligible for Section 18(a) donations certificates.
Says Taryn Gillson, the Executive Director of the CCFA and one of the 24-Hour Rowathon participants: “A donation of just R100 protects a rhino for 1 hour, or it feeds a rhino for a day AND educates a child from the local community about their natural heritage.”
For more information visit the Facebook Event, Row for Rhinos 24-Hour Rowathon, or contact organizer Sharon Jessop on mobile number 061 510 4657 or on email sjessop886@gmail.com
