Thirty rowers raise more than £1,000 for children’s surf therapy charity

Coast & Country Cottages staff held a rowing challenge to raise money for the children's surf therapy charity, The Wave Project. 

On Tuesday, 19 July, the Coast & Country Cottages rowing challenge took place. An impressive 202km - the length of the South Devon coastline - was rowed in just ten hours, raising over £1,000 for the children’s surf therapy charity, The Wave Project.

More than 30 rowers, including Coast & Country Cottages team members from all departments, plus volunteers from the local community and passers-by, took it in turns on the two rowing machines kindly lent by Kingsbridge Community College.

The fundraiser happened outside of the Coast & Country Cottages Salcombe office on Island Street, where the equivalent distance of Lyme Regis to Plymouth via the coastline was collectively rowed.

Jon Doyle, Managing Director, said “This was a wonderful team effort, with people taking time out of their days to work up a sweat and help us reach our goal. The distance, combined with the extraordinarily hot weather, meant it was certainly not easy! We rowed in all elements - sunshine, thunder, lightning and torrential rain - but that didn’t stop us.”

Emily Mercer, Marketing Manager, added “At Coast & Country Cottages, we believe the work The Wave Project do for children in the South West is truly incredible. We feel so lucky to live and work so close to the sea – as a team we regularly enjoy swimming, surfing, sailing and walking along our coastline. It is a pleasure to be raising money for this charity, so that more youngsters can experience the benefits of ‘Vitamin Sea’!”

The Wave Project is a surf therapy charity, which aims to help the mental health of children and young people, by offering free, life-changing one-to-one surf sessions, run by dedicated volunteer surf mentors.

To help with the fundraising effort, local businesses Salcombe Gin, Salcombe DIY, Devon Rum and Stingray UK donated prizes, for a raffle run in exchange for charitable donations.

Jon concludes “Thank you so much to everyone who took part, came along to cheer us on, or made donations. The support from local businesses, our holiday home owners, and people within the community has been fantastic. We are so grateful, and the money raised will make a difference to many children.”

If you would be interested in making a donation to this exceptionally worthwhile cause, the Coast & Country Cottages JustGiving page remains open for the rowing challenge: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ccccharityrow

For more information about Coast & Country Cottages, visit coastandcountry.co.uk