UCC Rowing Club Battle the Irish Sea for the Heart Foundation | Nichola Fennell

On Saturday October 26, UCC Rowing Club gathered in Douglas Court Shopping Centre for the club’s first charity event of the year, "Rowing the Irish Sea".Over the past two years the rowing club has joined up with the Irish Heart Foundation, in order to raise money and awareness for a great cause.During the course of Saturday’s event each Senior rower was left to cover a distance of fifteen kilometres each, to allow the team to reach a cumulative total of about two hundred and thirty kilometres, equivalent to the width of the Irish Sea.During the day, whilst the Senior athletes were busy breaking a sweat, the club’s Novice athletes encouraged passers-by to dig deep and help raise awareness for Ireland’s number one killer. Each year approximately 10’000 people die from a Cardio Vascular disease, placing increasing emphasis on the need to find a cure.In what proved to be a highly successful event over €1800 was raised in total. Everyone seemed to enjoy the day with the occasional spectator jumping on a rowing machine and trying it for themselves, even the kids! Who knows, maybe UCCRC can start a junior program soon!The charity events do not end here though. As well as the upcoming the Row-A-Thon, the club will be hosting many more events in association with the Irish Heart Foundation throughout the year in order to raise much needed funds for this fantastic charity and the club itself.At the end of November, for the first time UCCRC will send a Men’s Crew to Fours Head in London. Watch this space for more information on the club’s charity efforts, and how their Men’s crew get on across the water!